
Class 
Book 



'^ A^'n A 






Copyright)!!^.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




Artotype by 11. BKNECiUi, St. Louis, Mo. 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS 



OF 



MANY PROMINENT PEOPLE WHOM I HAVE KNOWN, AND 

OF EVENTS — ESPECIALLY OF THOSE RELATING 

TO THE HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS — DUR- 

ING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 

PRESENT CENTURY. 



By JOHN F. DARBY. 



PUBLISHED BY SUBSCRIPTION. 




ij^oAl^oUl^:^ 



•/^^ 1880. 




-^% 



ST. LOUIS: 
G. I. JONES AND COMPANY. 

1880. 






Entered according to an Act of CongreBS in the year 1880, by 
JOHN F. DARBY, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



This volume is published in response to repeated requests 
by friends, and in the hope that it will prove of interest and 
value. Some matters which are spoken of possess an his- 
toric interest, and will furnish materials for the future 
historian. While conscious of many imperfections in style 
and completeness, the author hopes that the matter will 
partially atone for the manner. 

St. Louis, Nov. 1, 1880. 



PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS 



OF 



JOHN F. DARBY. 



St. Louis in 1818. — As early as the year 1809, 
shortly after the return of Lewis and Clark from 
the expedition to the Pacific Ocean, my father came 
from jS^orth Carolina to Upper Louisiana, and pur- 
chased six hundred acres of land on the waters of 
Bonhomme Creek, in what was then called the St. 
Louis District, Louisiana Territory, bringing some 
negroes with him, with a view of establishing a farm 
and of removing his family to the country. He 
returned to North Carohna, leaving his plantation 
in charge of John Ward, a respectable farmer then 
living on the w^aters of Creve Coeur Lake. For 
some years he was deterred from bringing his family 
on account of the danger and trouble said to exist 
from the Indians. 

In the month of November, 1818, John Darby 

1 



2 FIRST VIEW OF ST. LOUIS. 

removed with his family to what is now Missomi, 
and settled on the plantation he had bonght in 1809 
in Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, where 
he lived till he died, in April, 1823. 

My father removed by land when he came to St. 
Louis. He had a large covered wagon, drawn by a 
five-horse team, wliich was driven by one of the 
negro men. My mother rode in an old-fasliioned 
gig. We had quite a stock of negroes, and a 
goodly number of cattle, hogs, and sheep, which 
were driven on foot from Kentucky. 

When we reached the eastern bank of the Mis- 
sissippi, and saw for the first time the town of St. 
Louis, it had even then a strildng and imposing 
appearance when viewed from the opposite shore. 

The first thing to be done l)y the movers was to 
cross the great river ; the current was strong, and 
the waters seemed boiling up from the bottom, and 
in places turbid and muddy. The ferry consisted of 
a small keel-boat, wliich was managed entirely by 
Frenchmen. Their strange habiliments, manner, 
and jabbering in the French language, had a new 
and striking effect upon myself and the other cliild- 
ren, coming as we did from the plantation in the 
Southern country. 

The cattle and stock were driven into pens in 
Illinoistown, which had few inhabitants. The next 



A PRIMITIVE FERllY. 3 

thing' to be done was, get the big wagon across the 
river. All the horses were loosened and unhitched 
from the wagon. The keel-boat was laid close to 
the bank, the boAV up-stream, and then the stern 
and bow of the boat were tied to trees and stakes 
driven in the bank. A couple of strong planks 
about eighteen inches wide and ten feet long were 
laid directly across the sides of the keel-boat ; then 
some ten or twelve men, our own hands assistinof, 
took hold of the big, heavy wagon, and ran it down 
the sandy bank to these planks, placed crosswise on 
the keel-boat; the wheels of the wagon resting on 
the planks, and extending over the sides of the boat 
for about a foot and a half or two feet on each side. 
Some blocks of wood were then prepared and driven 
under the wheels, l)oth before and behind, so that 
they could not move. Then some ropes were 
brought, and the fore and hind wagon-wheels were 
tied and lashed together with all the strength and 
power that the men had, in order to make the 
wagon secure and immovable. 

Eveiything being ready for a start, I jumped into 
the boat and determined to be one of the first to 
cross the river ; my mother objected, but my father 
consented, and I came. The lines were cast off 
from the bow and the stern of the keel-boat; as 



4: CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI. 

the bow of the vessel was pushed out mto the 
stream, the cuiTeut of the mighty river struck the 
prow with great force and power, the Frenchmen 
laboring at their oars with an activity and nimble- 
ness impossible to describe, and which could only 
be fully understood by being seen ; every portion of 
the body, — every muscle, in fact, — w^as brought 
into play ; each oarsman seemed to throw his whole 
soul into the work. The vessel rocked so that 
the trace-chains at the end of the tongue often 
dipped into the river; the large wagon, with its 
white sheet on, towered up in the air in the middle 
of the Mississippi ; the Frenchmen the meanwliile 
with great vivacity and animation talked, cursed, and 
swore in French , ' ' prenegar d , " " sacre , ' ' etc . , — 
so that the enterprise seemed a dangerous and 
hazardous undertaking. Nevertheless these trusty 
oarsmen brought us safely to the shore, and 
landed us on a sand beach about one hundred feet 
south of Market Street. At that time the beach 
extended from the foot of Market Street for about 
four or five hundred feet eastwardly before striking* 
the water in the river. It took these primitive ferry- 
men three days to ferry my father with his family 
and effects across the river, at a cost to liim of about 
fifty dollars for ferriage. 



AKKIVAL AT ST. LOUIS. 5 

The town of St. Louis at that time contained 
about two thousand inhabitants, two-thirds of whom 
were French and one-third Americans. The prevail- 
ing language of the white persons on the streets was 
French ; the negroes of the town all spoke French. 
All the inhabitants used French to the negroes, their 
horses, and their dogs, and used the same tongue 
in driving their ox-teams. They used no ox-yokes 
and bows, as the Americans did, in hitching their 
oxen to wagons and carts ; but instead had a light 
piece of wood about two or three inches thick and 
about five feet long, laid on ^he necks of the oxen, 
close up to the horns of the animals, and this piece 
of wood was fastened to the horns by leather straps, 
making them pull by the head instead of the neck 
and shoulders. In dri\dng their horses and cattle 
they used the words " chuck" and " see," " march- 
deau," which the animals all perfectly understood. 

The harness on their little Canadian horses was 
of the most primitive character, and patched together 
in the most rude and unworkmanlike manner with 
leather straps and buckskin thongs. Their carts 
were the rudest specimens of Avorkmanship : large 
shafts, with wooden felloes with no iron tire on them. 
One great objection to the innovation of the Ameri- 
cans, some years afterwards, when the Americans 



THE PlllNCIFAL STREETS. 



began to pave the streets, was that the Americans 
put rocks in the streets and ' ' broke their wooden 
cart-wheels." 

At that time there were three principal streets 
running' parallel with the Mississippi River. The 
first was called Main Street ; the next street west 
was called Church Street, from the fact that the 
Catholic church, the only church edifice then in town, 
was located upon it; and the third was called Barn 
Street. It is true that Auguste Chouteau and John 
B. C. Lucas had laid out an addition to St. Louis 
upon their forty-arpent lots on the liill west of the 
town, but as yet they had made few or no improve- 
ments. 

The original boundary of the ancient town of 
St. Louis began on the Mississippi River near the 
mouth of Mill Creek, called by the French ' ' Petite 
Reviere," and ran nearly due west to a point in 
the neighborhood of where Heitkamp's l^uildings 
are now located, on Fourth Street. From thence 
the line ran nortliwardly to a point near where 
the north-east corner of the Southern Hotel is 
located, on what is now the corner of Walnut and 
Fourth Streets, where there was a fortification and 
round tower. In Spanish times it was the jail 
or prison-house of the government, and it was 



ORIGINAL BOUNDARY LINES. 7 

continued as a jail by the American authorities till 
the year 1818, when the new jail was built, on the 
site where the Laclede-Bircher Hotel now stands. 
The old jail, or round tower, was ahout forty or 
fifty feet liigh, and standing as it did on the brow 
of the hill, with no building to obstruct, Avas a prom- 
inent object, easily seen from a distance. The west 
line of the town then ran north wai'dly from this point, 
striking Market Street about ten or twelve feet east 
of the present eastern intersection of Market and 
Fourth Streets, and continuing in a direct line in 
the same direction nearly to the south-west corner of 
Third Street and where Washington Avenue is now 
located, and where there was another stone fort or 
fortification erected ; thence northwardly by a direct 
line to about or near where the eastern line of Third 
intersects Cherry Street. At tliis point was a large 
fortification called ''the old Bastion.'' It occupied 
more ground, and was by far the best of the forts, 
most substantially and strongly built of solid stone ; 
it looked solid and formidahle, and was located on 
the east side of Thii-d Street. From tliis point the 
line of the toA\m ran nearly due east, a little 
north, to Roy's Tower, on the bank of the Mis- 
sissippi River; a large round tower, built of stone, 
at that point, about forty or fifty feet high. The 



8 DUNCAN'S ISLAND. 

eastern boundary of the town was the Mississippi 
River. The southern, western, and northern boun- 
daries of the town, as here marked out, had some 
few years before that been enclosed by pickets, ten 
or tweh^e feet high, firmly planted in the ground ; 
and at different points were gates, admitting of 
egress and ingress to the town ; at night these 
gates were secured and guarded. In the year 1818 
the pickets were gone, but all the fortifications 
remained. 

There was no wharf or front street, and there 
were only two ways of getting from Main Street to 
the river : one was at the foot of Market Street, and 
the other at the foot of what is now called Morofan 
Street. 

From the foot of Market Street was a sand-bank 
extending some five or six hundred feet eastwardl}^ 
before it reached the waters of the Mississippi River. 
This extended southwardly to the lower end of towm, 
where there was then being formed what is called a 
''tow-head," a few cotton wood bushes and willows 
growing up on a high point in the sand, and from 
this grew what was known afterwards as ' ' Dun- 
can' s Island," Robert Duncan taldng possession 
and putting a house upon it. 

The French who had been sent forward by 



DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN FRONT. 9 

Laclede, under the command of Auguste Chouteau, 
from Fort Chartres, landed at the foot of where Mar- 
ket Street now is. From that pomt south to where 
the ^'Petite Keviere " emptied, the banks of the 
Mississippi were low, and rose very gently, as may 
be seen at this day ; and from the creek up to this 
point (Market Street that is now), the whole space 
was covered with a tliick growth of timber, such as 
hackberry, ash, and pawpaw. It was to be acces- 
sible to and have the use of this timber that the 
location was made at this point. 

A little north of Market Street on the Missis- 
sippi, the abrupt bluff began to rise, and so con- 
tinued up to near the mouth of Rocky Branch, in 
some places higher and in others lower; in many 
places rising more than forty feet in a perpendicular, 
upright wall of solid hmestone, and in others hang* 
ing over, and forming a sort of cavern at the base. 
The French called it " ores ecore du Mississippy^^"^ — 
the abrupt wall or precipice of the Mississippi. 

At the base of tliis perpendicular cliff was, when 
the river was low, a large, flat rock, extending one 
himdred feet or more from the base of the cliff to 
the water in the river ; and persons could walk from 
Market Street up to Morgan in front of the cliff on 
the flat rock. 



10 MAIN STREET THE BUSINESS CENTRE. 

There were springs gushing out of this flat rock 
below the steep wall, where many of the inhabitants 
got water. Another strange sight was the carrying 
of buckets suspended to a sort of a yoke fitting 
around the neck, and attached to long strips of 
wood hooked to the l)uckets from the shoulders. 

Main Street was pretty compactly built, mostly 
with stone, though some frame and log houses still 
existed, the log houses of the French being, how- 
ever, different from those built by the Americans. 
The French built by hewing the logs, and then 
planting them in the groimd perpendicularly ; while 
the Americans laid the logs horizontally, and 
notched them together at the corners. 

All the rich people lived on Main Street; all 
the fine houses were there. All the stores were on 
Main Street ; all the business of the town was trans- 
acted there. In the upper part of Second, or Church 
Street, there were few houses ; in the lower part there 
were more. The houses occupied by families then 
were generally small ; there were a few brick houses 
in the town, perhaps not more than five or six. 

Col. Auguste Chouteau had an elegant domicile, 
fronting on Main Street: His dweUing and houses 
for his servants occupied the whole square bounded 
north by Market Street, east by Main Street, south 



MANSIONS OF THE CHOUTEAUS. 11 

by what is now known as Walnut Street, and on the 
west by Second Street. The whole square was en- 
closed by a solid stone wall two feet thick and ten 
feet high, with port-holes about every ten feet apart, 
through which to shoot Indians in case of an attack. 
The walls of Col. Chouteau's mansion were two and 
a half feet thick, of solid stone-work ; t^o stories 
high, and surrounded by a large piazza or portico 
about' fourteen feet wide, supported by pillars in 
front and at the two ends. The house was elegantly 
furnished, but at that time not one of the rooms was 
carpeted. In fact, no carpets were then used in St. 
Louis. The floors of the house were made of black- 
walnut, and were polished so finely that they reflected 
like a mirror. He had a train of servants, and every 
morning after breakfast some of these inmates of 
his household were down on their laiees for hours, 
with brushes and wax, keeping the floors polished. 
The splendid abode, with its surroundings, had indeed 
the appearance of a castle. 

^ Maj. Pierre Chouteau also had an elegant dom- 
icil, built after the same manner and of the same 
materials. He, too, occupied a whole square with 
his mansion, bounded on the east by Main Street, 
on the south by what is known as Vine Street, on 



V 



12 A CONTENTED COMMUNITY. 

the west by Second Street, and on the north by 
what is now known as Washington Avenne ; the 
whole sqnare being enclosed with high, solid stone 
walls and having port-holes, in like manner as his 
brother's. 

When Gen. Lafayette came to St. Louis, in the 
year 1825, the city authorities furnished as his quar- 
ters the mansion of Maj. Chouteau, as the finest 
building and the most splendidly furnished house in 
the town. Many a time has it been my good for- 
tune to dance all night long in that noble old edi- 
fice, and to share the noble and generous hospitality 
there dispensed. ' 

At the time we speak of there was not a single 
paved street in the town. Chouteau's water-mill 
and Brazeau's horse-mill did the grinding for 
the town. There was little commerce ; a few 
peltries and a few pigs of lead were all that was 
shipped. 

But the inhabitants were, beyond doubt, the 
most happy and contented people that ever lived. 
They believed in enjoying life. There was a fiddle 
in every house, and a dance somewhere every night. 
They were honest, hospitable, confiding, and gener- 
ous. 'No man locked his door at night, and the 



ACTS FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF LAND TITLES. 13 

inhabitant slept in security, and soundly, giving him- 
self no concern for the safety of the horse in his 
stable or of the household goods and effects in his 
habitation. 



Article III. of the treaty of cession of Louisiana 
reads as follows : — 

The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in 
the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible, 
according to the principles of the Federal Constitntion, to the en- 
jo3niient of all the rights, advantages, and immunities of citizens 
of the United States, and in the meantime they shall be maintained 
and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and 
the religion which they profess. 

In pursuance of tliis article, Congress passed the 
following acts for ascertaining and adjusting titles 
and claims to land in Louisiana, viz. : Act of March 
26, 1804; act of March 2, 1805; act of February 
26, 1806; act of April 21, 1806; act of March 3, 
1807. ^N^otwithstanding these various acts of Con- 
gress, up to the year 1811 there were not three 
perfect titles to land in the whole territory of Upper 
Louisiana. 

In the report of the Board of Directors of the 

« 

St. Louis Public Schools for the year 1876, it is stated 



14 THOMAS F. KIDDICK. 

that the whole amount of revenue of the public 
schools at that time was $789,114.99; that the 
property owned by the board consisted of large 
landed property donated by the general government, 
at the estimated value of $1,252,895.79, yielding 
that year an income of $52,855.75. 

It is ]3roposed to give the origin of this rich grant 
of land to the public schools. It did not originate 
in Congress, but emanated from and was started by 
Thomas F. Riddick, of St. Louis. He was the 
man who first conceived the idea of having this 
valuable grant made to the public schools, and 
took steps to have it done. He it was who planned, 
labored for, and carried out the project. 

In a communication from Thomas F. Riddick to 
Jeremiah Morrow, chairman of the Committee on 
Public Lands, dated Washington, March 26, 1812, 
occurs this statement. Speaking of certain uncon- 
firmed claims, Mr. Riddick says, "if confirmed at 
once by the outer lines of a survey to be made by 
the principal, it would give general satisfaction, and 
save the United States a deal of useless hivestiga- 
tion into sul)jects that are merely matters of indi- 
vidual dispute. The United States can claim no 
rights over the same, except a few solitary village 
lots and inconsiderable vacant spots, of little value, 



HIS SCHEME FOR ENDOWMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 15 

wliicli might be given to the inhal3itants for the sup- 
port of schools." 

In support of this project of giving the vacant 
lots to the public schools, as suggested by Thomas 
F. Riddick, action was pressed upon CongTess by 
Edward Hempstead, the then delegate in Congress 
from Missouri Territory. Mr. Hempstead appealed 
to Congress to have these people of Louisiana con- 
firmed in their titles to their lands, and urged, 
amongst other grounds, the fact that they had been 
incorporated into the Union and made citizens of the 
United States without their knowledge, authority, or 
consent; that by the Spanish law and royal order 
the Intendant-General at ^ew Orleans was alone 
vested with authority to make grants of land in Lou- 
isiana in the name of the sovereign, Ms Catholic 
majesty the king of Spain, which grants having not 
been perfected before the transfer of the country to 
the United States, all these were, as a matter 
of course, inchoate and necessarily imperfect. He 
therefore urged upon and pleaded with Congress to 
pa?ss the act of June 13, 1812, which he had pro- 
posed, as a matter of justice, and for which the honor 
and faith of the nation were bound and solemnly 
pledged. Being a delegate merely, he could not 
vote, but could only advocate his bill, which was 






16 THOMAS F. KIDDICK. 

voted upon and passed finally by the members of 
Congress. A portion of the act of Congress is as 
follows : — 

Be it enacted^ etc. Sect. 1. The rights, titles, and claims to 
town or village lots, out-lots, common-field lots, and commons in, 
adjoining, and belonging to the several towns or villages of Portage 
des Sioux, St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Ferdinand, Village a Robert, 
Little Prairie, and Arkansas, in the Territory of Missouri, which 
lots have been inhabited, cultivated, or possessed prior to the twen- 
tieth day of December, 1803, shall be and the same are hereby 
confirmed to the inhabitants of the respective towns or villages 
aforesaid, according to their several rights in common thereto." 
[The proviso to this section is omitted as not being necessary to 
this sketch. Acts of Twelfth Congress, Chap. XCIX.] 

Sect. 2. All town or village lots, out-lots, or common-field lots 
included in such surveys, which are not rightfully owned or 
claimed by any private individuals, or held as commons belonging 
to such towns or villages, or that the president of the United 
States may not think proper to reserve for military purposes, shall 
be and the same are hereby reserved for the support of schools in 
the respective towns or villages aforesaid." [The proviso to this 
section is also omitted, as not being necessary to this article. 
Id., sect. 2.] 

This is the origin of this rich gift to the St. 
Louis public schools. The value of the lands now 
owned by the schools, in round numbers, may be 
stated to be worth to-day more than a million and a 
half of dollars. The section of tliis law giving 
these lands to the public schools was inserted in the 
act by Mr. Hempstead, at the special and earnest 
request of Thomas F. Riddick. Col. Riddick had 



GRANT OF LAND FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES. 17 

lived here in St. Louis many years l^efore that ; he 
knew nearly all the inhabitants of the then small 
French village personally ; he knew all about the 
town, and he knew that there were certain lots of 
ground in the town for which no rightful owners or 
claimants could be found. Col. Kiddick started on 
horsehack and rode all the way to Washington City, 
and at his own individual expense had this desirable 
object consummated. In this measure he was aided 
and supported by Clement B. Penrose, one of the 
meml^ers of the l)oard of commissioners appointed 
by the government for adjudicating and passing 
upon the titles to lands in Upper Louisiana. Of 
these things I have heard from Col. Riddick him- 
self; and afterwards, Archibald Gamble, Esq., so 
long the efficient and active agent of the public 
schools in looking after their interest in these lands, 
informed me that to Col. Riddick was due the credit 
of having this grant of lands made. Further evi- 
dence of this fact will be found in the American 
State Papers, title ''Public Lands." 

It was my good fortune to have known Col. 
Riddick intimately and well. I have \dsited his 
house ; have shared his generous hospitality ; and 
have enjoyed his friendship and that of the whole 
family. 



18 THOMAS F. RIDJDICK. 

Col. Kiddick was amongst the first trustees of 
the pubhc schools. He was a member of the con- 
vention that formed the first Constitution of the 
State of Missouri, being elected on the same ticket 
Avith such men as Edward Bates, Gov. Mc^N^air, 
(xen. Bernard Pratte, and Pierre Chouteau, Jr» 
AYhen he embarked in any measure, he was one of 
the most enthusiastic men that ever hved. He 
pied at the Sulphur Springs in Jefferson County, 
Missouri, about the year 1830 or 1831, beloved, 
honored, and respected by all who knew Mm. It is 
Avith the most becoming deference and respect 
towards the members of the St. Louis Board of 
Public Schools, and certainly in no spirit of offi- 
ciou^sness or offensiveness, that I may be permitted 
to express the hope that the very intelligent and 
worthy gentlemen who compose the board will, 
lief ore long, take some suitable action to erect a 
proper monument to the memory of one who has 
conferred upon them the means of doing so much 
good, and from wliich those under their charge have 
been blessed Avith and have derived such lasting ben- 
efits. In fact, so far as these St. Louis pubhc 
schools are concerned. Col. Thomas F. Piddick was 
the creator and originator of that noble system of 
instruction in St. Louis. 



EDWARD HEMPSTEAD. 19 

Of Edward Hempstead, the delegate in Congress, 
who mtrodiiced and had passed this act, a word 
should be said. His father, Stephen Hempstead, 
who rode in the carriage with Lafayette when he 
came to St. Louis, lived here. He had several sons 
besides Edward Hempstead, — William, Lewis, 
Thomas, and Charles S. They were all men of 
standing and character. Charles S. Hempstead died 
in Galena, Illinois, in the year 1875, at the advanced 
age of more than eighty ^^ears. For more than 
forty years he had l)een a practising laAvyer and 
was for many years the law partner of Mr. Wash- 
burne, so long the minister of the United States 
at Paris. 

Edward Bates informed me that when Edward 
Hempstead first came to St. Louis, he came all the 
way from Vincennes, Lidiana, on foot, with a little 
bundle on his back. He was born in Xew London, 
Connecticut, June 3, 1780 ; received a classical edu- 
cation from private tutors, and, having studied law, 
was admitted to the bar in 1801. After spending- 
three years in Rhode Island practising his profession, 
he removed in 1804 to the territory of Louisiana, 
travelling on horseback and tarrying for aAvhile at 
Vincennes, Indiana Territory. He first settled in 
St. Charles, on the Missouri River ; in 1805 he re- 



20 DAVID BAllTON. 

moved to St. Louis, where he resided the balance of 
his life. In 1806 he was appointed deputy attor- 
ney-general for the districts of St. Louis and St. 
Charles, and in 1809 attorney-general for the terri- 
tory of Upper Louisiana, which office he held until 
1811, and he was the first delegate to Congress from 
the western side of the Mississippi River, represent- 
ing Missouri Territory from 1811 to 1814. After 
Ms service in Congress, he went upon several expe- 
ditions against the Indians ; was elected to the Terri- 
torial Assembly, and chosen Speaker. He was a 
man of ability, pure and without reproach, and liis 
loss was deeply lamented by all who knew him. He 
died in St. Louis, 10th of August, 1817, a little over 
thirty-seven years of age. 



Among the eminent and distinguished men of 
which the western country can boast as having pro- 
duced, David Barton deservedly stands in the front 
rank. The great ability with which he discharged 
the duties of the high pulDlic positions which he held 
under the governments of the State of Missouri and 
of the United States justly entitles him to this proud 



HIS BIRTH AND PARENTAGE. 21 

distinction. Called into pnblic life in the first half- 
centmy of the repnblic, when men of genins, of 
learning', of enltnre, and ability filled the highest 
places in the government, and when the main quali- 
fications for official station were capacity, honesty, 
and faithfulness to the Constitution, he was pos- 
sessed of these qualities in the highest degree. He 
was one of the great men of his time. 

It is pi'oposed merely to give a l^rief sketch of 
this man. David Barton Avas the fifth child and 
the first son of the Rev. Isaac Barton and his wife, 
Keziah Barton, formerly Keziah Murphy. He was 
born in Greene County, in the State of ^orth Car- 
olina, in what is noAV the State of Tennessee, De- 
cember 14, 1783. His father, the Rev. Isaac Bar- 
ton, was born in the State of Maryland, on the six- 
teenth day of August, 1746. Isaac Barton removed 
with his father, first to N^orth Carolina, where he 
stayed for a short time, and then returned to Frank- 
lin County, Virginia. There he married Keziah 
Murphy, daughter of the Rev. Wilham Murphy, on 
the ninth day of October, 1772. Shortly after his 
marriage, Isaac Bart on. joined the Baptist Church, 
and immediately thereafter he ' entered the ministry 
as a preacher of the Grospel of that denomination. 
He, with his wife and two children, — Martha, the 



22 DAVID BARTON. 

mother of the late distinguished statesman and 
prominent puhhc man in Tennessee, Spencer Jarni- 
gan, and his daughter Jane, — removed to what was 
then known as the Western Settlements of i^orth 
Carolina, in the fall of the year 1780, and there 
settled in what was then Greene County. 

The Rev. Isaac Barton came to Greene County, 
^N^orth Carolina, Avith his wife and two children, in 
company with the mountain meji. Col. John Sevier 
ind Col. Shelhy, after their victorious and triumph- 
ant return from the battle of King's Mountain, in 
South Carolina. 

Of that desperate battle. Lord Rawdon had him- 
self declared to the British government that it 
showed such daring and determined acts of bravery 
and invincible hardihood on the part of the Ameri- 
cans as was unknown in modern times. 

The Kev. Isaac Barton made his home upon and 
selected as his future habitation a piece of land 
situated about six miles east of Greenville. It w^as 
on tliis plantation and farm that David Barton was 
born. Afterwards, Isaac Barton, the father of David 
Barton, removed to what is now known as Ham- 
blin County, a new county which has been formed 
since the year 1870. 

The territory of what constitutes the State of 



HIS BEOTHEES. 23 

Tennessee was a part of the original State of Xorth 
Carolina np to the first day of June, 1796, when 
Tennessee was admitted into the Union on an equal 
footing with the original thii'teen States, as an inde- 
pendent State of the Union, under the Constitution 
of the United States. 

The father of David Barton, Isaac Barton, be- 
sides being a Baptist minister, was also by occupa- 
tion a farmer, by which means he supported liis 
family ; for as a preacher, in these early days, he had 
no salary or support from the members of the 
church. He had born to him twelve cliildren. His 
second son, Isaac, died in infancy. His third son, 
William Barton, was a plain farmer, who neither 
sought nor desired distinction, and who removed to 
the State of Missouri, where he died on the thirty- 
first day of December, 1843. His fourth son, John 
Barton, died in the army and in the service of his 
country, Fel)ruary 15, 1815. His fifth son, Joshua 
Barton, was killed in a duel by Thomas Rector, 
June 23, 1823, both parties being residents of St. 
Louis. And liis youngest and sixth son, Isaac Bar- 
ton, the second, died in Jefferson City, Missouri, 
March 25, 1842 ; holding, at the time of his death, 
the office of clerk of the United States Court for 
the District of Missouri, Avhich also had and exer- 



24 DAVID BARTOi^. 

eised Circuit Court jurisdiction, a position he had 
filled for more than twenty-one years, — in fact, from 
the first organization of the United States District 
Court after the State of Missouri had been admitted 
into the Union. 

Of Joshua Barton, the late Edward Bates used 
to say that he had the finest legal mind and was the 
most accomplished lawyer he had ever Iniown. At 
the time of his death he was the United States district 
attorney for the Missouri District, and was also the 
partner of Edward Bates in the practice of the law 
in St. Louis. 

The duel in which he Avas killed grew out of a 
pul:)lication which Joshua Barton had written and 
caused to l)e printed in the Missouri JRepublican 
newspaper, concerning the conduct of Gen. William 
Kector, a brother of Thomas Rector, at that time 
surveyor-general of the United States for the States 
of Illinois and Missouri. In the correspondence pre- 
ceding the challenge, and wliich led to the duel, 
Joshua Barton refused to accept the challenge until 
Thomas Rector would admit that the statements 
made by Joshua Barton in the publication which 
caused the challenge were true. Rector admitted 
this, and the challenge was accepted. They went 
over to Bloody Island, in the Mississippi River (so 



DEATH OF HIS PARENTS. 25 

called from the numerous duels fought there) , oppo- 
site the city of St. Louis, within the limits of the 
State of Illinois, where they fought with pistols, 
and Joshua Barton was killed. 

His hody was hrought over to St. Louis and 
thence taken up to St. Charles, and huried hy his 
good friend Edward Bates near the old round stone 
fort wliich stood on the high hill on the west hank 
of the Missouri River, at the lower end of the 
towm. 

The venerable Isaac Barton, having fought the 
battle of life for more than fourscore years, died at 
the good old age of eighty-five years, on ^N^ovember 
10, 1831, in Jefferson County, Tennessee ; having 
had l)orn unto him the goodly and patriarchal num- 
ber of twelve cliildren, and raised a family that was 
an ornament and a blessing to society. And, like old 
Jacob of patriarchal times, he had lived to see the 
greatness, glory, and honor which had been won 
for his family and name by his son ; whilst the 
mother of David Barton, the wdfe of the Rev. Isaac 
Barton, lived to be over ninety-one years old (the 
same old age to which Sara lived when she bore 
Isaac, who was born unto Abraham under the 
covenant made by God with him), when she died, 
in Jefferson County, Tennessee, on the tenth day 



26 * DAYID BAKTON. 

of IsTovember, 1845, having survived her husband 
just foiu'teen years. 

Davdd Barton was educated at Greenville College, 
in what is now Tennessee, formerly in the State of 
ISTorth Carolina, under that fine scholar. Dr. H. 
Baulch. He studied law under Judge Anderson, in 
Tennessee, and was admitted to the l3ar between 
the years 1810 and 1812. Soon after he removed 
to St. Louis, and settled in what was then Upper 
Louisiana. This was about the latter part of the 
year 1812. Shoi-tly after having established himself 
m his new home he joined one of the volunteer 
military companies raised in St. Louis, and went 
forth as a private soldier to meet the Indians, then 
numerous and warlike, and to aid in protecting the 
white inhal)itants from the barbarous savages. 

Among the first lawyers to settle in St. Louis 
were the three Bartons (David, Joshua, and Isaac) , 
the three McGirks (Matliias, Andrew, and Isaac), 
Alexander Gray, and James Hawkins Peck, who 
was afterwards made United States district judge 
for the Missouri District. All these men were from 
the eastern part of Tennessee, where they had read 
the common law and had made themselves ac- 
quainted with tlie system of English jurisprudence. 
But when they came to Upper Louisiana, where the 



APPOmTED CIPvCUIT JUDGE. 27 

civil law obtained and was in force at that time, 
these men found that they were ignorant of the laws 
of the country, and entirely unqualified to practice. 

By act of Congress, the name of the Territory 
was very soon after changed from Upper Louisiana 
to that of Missouri Territory, and power was given 
for the election of a Territorial Legislature. So 
soon as the first Territorial Legislatiu'e met, of 
which some of these lawyers were members, they 
passed an act, on the nineteenth day of January, 
1816, maldng the common law of England, and 
the British statutes made prior to the fourth year of 
James I., and which were not inconsistent with the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, the 
law of the Territory. This was easily done, because 
the whole population of the Territory did not then 
exceed ten thousand souls. While the civil law was 
at that time, and has ever since been, the law of the 
State of Louisiana, and is so to this day, the com- 
mon law and British statutes so introduced by the 
Territorial Legislature have been, under various acts 
of the State of Missouri, made the law of the State 
to this day. 

Innnediately after the introduction of the com- 
mon law, Da^dd Barton was appointed judge of the 
St. Louis Circuit Court. He was the first Circuit 



28 * DAVID BARTON. 

Court judge who ever held a court west of the 
Mississippi River. And it is not saying too much 
to assert that the bench of that court has never 
had an abler judge, if indeed it has ever had his 
equal, since. 

In pursuance of an act of Congress passed 
March 6, 1820, members to a convention to form a 
State Constitution were elected, and on the 12th of 
June, 1820, they assembled in the old dining-room 
of the City Hotel, situated on the north-east cornek^ 
of Third and Vine Streets. The hotel and dining- 
room remains as then, to this day (1880). David 
Barton was a member from the county of St. Louis,- 
and was unanimously elected president of the conven- 
tion, which passed the State Constitution which went 
into effect on the 19th day of July, 1820. The most 
important provisions of that instrument were framed 
by David Barton ; and from that day to the pres- 
ent it has been called and known as the ' ' Barton 
Constitution." 

As presiding officer of that deliberative body 
he gave universal satisfaction, and commanded the 
respect of all for the dignity, courtesy, and impar- 
tiality with which he discharged the duties of that 
honorable position. The first session of the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the State of Missouri, under the 



ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR. 29 

Constitution, met in the Missouri Hotel (at that time 
situated on Main Street in the towii of St. Louis) 
on Monday, the eighteenth day of September, 1820. 
At that session two senators to Congress, to repre- 
sent the State of Missouri in the Senate of the 
United States, were to be chosen. 

David Barton was, without opposition, chosen 
senator by that body. For the place of the second 
senator there were five apphcants, viz. : Thomas H. 
Benton, John B. C. Lucas, Henry Elliott, Jolin 
Rice Jones, and Nathaniel Cook. After many 
efforts, it was found to be impossible to elect any 
of these gentlemen. 

Such was the unbounded popularity of David 
Barton at that time that he only needed to intimate 
whom he desired to be made senator in Congress, to 
have him elected. After the ineffectual effort had 
been made to elect a second senator, the members 
of the Legislature gave to him the privilege of 
selecting and naming liis colleague, and Barton 
chose Thomas H. Benton. 

Benton's unpopularity was so great, how^ever, 
that with all of Barton's acknowledged strength, 
power, and influence in his behalf, it seemed to be 
almost impossil)le to elect him. Various plans, cau- 
cuses, schemes, and councils were projected and 



30 DAVID BARTON. 

held to effect his election to the Senate, and consum- 
mate the wishes of David Barton. 

There was a memher of the Legislature from St. 
Louis County named Marie Philip Leduc. He was 
a Frenchman, and had heen secretary of Don Carlos 
Dehault Delassus, the last lieutenant-governor of 
Upper Louisiana under the Spanish government. 
He had asseverated over and over again that he 
would lose his right arm before he would vote for 
Thomas H. Benton as senator. Judge John B. C. 
Lucas, the strongest and most formidable opponent of 
Thomas H. Benton for a seat in the United States 
Senate, was the father of Charles Lucas, a prominent 
lawyer who had been killed in a duel by Benton 
about three yeai's before. There was, therefore, a 
most bitter and violent feeling, growing out of this 
duel, between the friends of Judge Lucas and 
of Thomas H. Benton. The friends of Thomas H. 
Benton found, upon canvassing the members of the 
Legislature, that they could elect him by one ma- 
jority if they could mn over to their side a single 
supporter of Judge Lucas or of one of the other can- 
didates. 

The friends of the Benton party in the Legisla- 
ture therefore determined to make a " dead set" at 
Marie Philip Leduc. They combined, united, and 



THE STRUGGLE TO ELECT HIS COLLEAGUE. 31 



l)roiight to bear upon him the personal and powerful 
influence of Col. Auguste Chouteau, John P. Ca- 
banne, Gen. Bernard Pratte, Maj. Pierre Chouteau, 
Sylvester Labadie, and Grregoire Sarpy, — all per- 
sonal friends of Marie Philip Leduc, all Frenchmen, 
all men of wealth, of distinction, of great influence 
and personal popularity. 

Col. Auguste Chouteau, with Laclede the founder 
of the towm, a man of the greatest wealth and dis- 
tinction, was the principal speaker. They all met in 
a room where tliey had assembled to talk over and 
discuss the matter, and to determine and declare who 
should be Barton's colleague, and take the steps to 
elect him. Col. Chouteau urged upon Leduc to 
vote for Benton, and to give up his support of 
Judge Lucas ; because, he said, if Judge Lucas 
was .elected senator, the French inhabitants w^ould 
never have their French and Spanish grants to their 
lands confirmed ; that Judge Lucas, as a member of 
the board of commissioners for adjusting the titles 
under these grants to the inhabitants of Upper 
Louisiana, had been inimical to and had warred 
against the confirmation of their claims for nearly 
twenty years ; that Benton was friendly to and 
would take an active part in passing the laws con- 
firming them in their titles to their lands. 



32 DAVID BARTON. 

After arguing, pleading, and reasoning with Marie 
Philip Lednc all night long, Leduc yielded al)out 
the hreak of day to the influences brought to hear 
upon him, and agreed to vote for Benton. It had 
been a desperate struggle throughout that sleepless 
night. This was on Saturday night, the thirtieth 
day of September, 1820. The election was to come 
off on Monday morning, the second day of October, 
1820. It was all-important to the Benton men that 
the election should be held as soon as possible, for 
Daniel Ralls, one of their voters, was sick and 
might die. 

Early in the morning, therefore, directly after 
nine o'clock, the two houses met in joint session, in 
the large dining-room in the hotel, to vote for 
United States senator. Daniel Ralls, the sick mem- 
ber, was upstairs in his bed, unable to sit up so 
that he could be lifted into a chair and brought down 
to vote. He was sinldng fast ; and if he died, as it 
was feared he would, before the election, the Benton 
men would not have a majority, and would fail in 
electing their man. 

Accordingly, so soon as the two houses had met 
in joint session to elect another senator as the col- 
league of David Barton, four large, stout negro 
men were taken up stairs into the sick member's 



ELECTION OF COL. BENTON TO THE SENATE. 33 

room, and by direction they seized hold of the bed — 
one at each corner — on which the prostrate mem- 
ber lay, and brought it down stairs and laid Ralls 
down in the middle of the hall wherein the two 
houses of the General Assembly had met. Ralls 
was too sick even to raise his head, but when his 
name was called, voted for Thomas II. Benton ; 
which being done, the four negro men took him up 
stairs to Ms room, where he died. For this last act 
of his life, the Legislature, at the same session, did 
Mr. Ralls the honor to name a county after him, — 
Ralls County, — one of the oldest counties in the 
State. 

Through such death-struggles as this it was that 
Thomas H. Benton, with the powerful aid of David 
Barton, first reached the floor of the American 
Senate, where afterwards he used to boast that he 
had served six Roman lustrums. 

Barton and Benton failed to take their seats in 
the United States Senate for more than a year after 
their election, because the State of Missouri was not 
admitted into the Union until after the passage of 
the great compromise act of Mr. Clay, known as 
the Missouri Compromise, when, upon the proclama- 
tion of President Monroe, the State was admitted. 
But when Barton and Benton did take their seats in 

3 



34 DAVID BARTON. 

the Senate, they were looked upon as two of the 
most distmgiiished, able, and talented men of that 
body, although from the youngest State at that time 
m the Union, and both of them natives of, born, 
and educated in the good old State of ^N^orth Caro- 
hna. Most of the other States, at that period, usu- 
ally had one distinguished and talented member of 
that body, whilst his colleague, in most cases, was a 
very ordinary man, of mediocre talents and ability. 

This very short and imperfect sketch will not 
permit the writer to enter upon a dissertation upon 
the public services of David Barton. He was 
elected for two terms as a senator from Missouri, 
and served for ten years in the Senate. Before his 
retirement from the Senate he delivered that great 
speech against the administration of Gen. Jackson, 
wherein he, in a masterly philippic that thrilled and 
electrified the nation, also arraigned his colleague, 
Mr. Benton, for his official misconduct. For force 
of statement and clearness of deduction, keen in- 
vective, sharp, polished wit, withering sarcasm, and 
force of denunciation, it has never been surpassed in 
the Senate. 

We are told that John Randolph, the accom- 
plished Roanoke orator, in the United States House 
of Representatives compared Ben. Hardin of Ken- 



ASSAILS JACKSON'S ADMINISTKATION. 35 

tucky to a butcher's knife sharpened upon a brick- 
bat, — that he was " rough, and cut deep." David 
Barton, in this great speech in the Senate, had 
nothing of the rough butcher-knife about him, but 
cut with the fine pohsh and keenness of a razor. 
That speech had a demand, and was sought for with 
avidity all over the United States, as much as was 
the great speech afterwards made in the same sen- 
ate-chamber by Daniel Webster, in reply to Hayne, 
on Foote's resolution. 

There was an incident connected with this great 
speech of David Barton in the Senate which is 
worthy of being related. The senate-chamber was 
crowded to its fullest capacity. More than half the 
members of the House of Kepresentatives had 
pressed in upon the floor of the Senate to hear the 
speech. The galleries of the Senate were crowded 
beyond all precedent, and hundreds of persons filled 
up the passage-way, unable to gain admittance. 
Amongst the rest, an old frontier backwoodsman 
from the western part of Missouri had found his way 
into the gallery of the senate-chamber, and during' 
the delivery of Barton's speech became greatly ex- 
cited, and could hardly contain himself within the 
decencies and proprieties due to the occasion. As 
soon as Barton had ceased speaking, and the Sen- 



36 DAVID BARTON. 

ate had been pronounced adjourned, and while the 
dense crowd of people were rismg to their feet and 
struggling to leave the chamber, this old pioneer 
could restrain himself no longer. He rose in the 
gallery, with the great crowd of people all around 
him striving to get out, and shouted to the full 
extent of liis voice, that could be heard far above 
the people throughout the chamber, ''' Hurrah for 
the little red / " ' ' Hurrah for the little red P ' This 
sudden shout, under the circumstances, seemed to 
astonish and startle for a moment everybody in the 
senate-chamber. The eyes of everybody in the hall 
were directed to this strange being, dressed as he 
was in the habiliments of backwoods life in the far 
West. Even after he got out of the Capitol, and on 
the streets, where he could give full vent to his power- 
ful voice and shout louder, he kept on yelling out, 
again and again, at the highest pitch of his voice, 
'^Hurrah for the little red^-' to the great amazement 
of the multitude. Many thought the man was mad. 
When asked for an explanation of his unaccomit- 
able conduct, — for he seemed rational when spoken 
to, — he said that he was from the Western country, 
and that he had formerly indulged in the sport of 
fighting chickens, and that at one time he had 
owned a httle red rooster wliich could whip any 



RECEPTION AT HOME — FAILS OF RE-ELECTION. 37 

chicken that could be brought agamst him ; that 
when he saw David Barton, who was an old friend 
of his, on that occasion " putting his licks into them 
fellers in the Senate, and bringing them down at 
every flutter," it reminded him of his cock-fighting 
days, when his little red used to clean out every- 
thing in the ring. Barton was his little red. 
' ' Hurrah for my little red ! ' ' 

Tliis anecdote obtained currency in the papers, 
and Barton, after that, was very often called in the 
newspapers '' Little Red." 

When Barton returned from the Senate, Ms 
friends in St. Louis received him with the greatest 
enthusiasm, and gave him a grand dinner at the Mis- 
souri Hotel, — that same old building in which he 
had been elected first to the United States Senate. 
Hon. Edward Bates presided. It was an elegant 
entertainment, and Barton delivered a political 
speech. 

The wi'iter of this very imperfect sketch is one of 
the very few survivors who were present, and one of 
the getter s-up of that banquet. 

When David Barton was defeated in his re-elec- 
tion to the United States Senate, the whole opposi- 
tion press of the administration of Gen. Jackson 
looked upon it as a national calamity. The defeat of 



o 



38 DAVID BAKTON. 

no man as a member of the Senate ever caused such 
a universal regret as this to that intelligent set of 
men who afterwards formed and constituted the 
Wliig party. The newspapers in the interest of that 
powerful and influential political body of men, 
throughout the *land, teemed with whole columns 
speaking of it in terms as of a misfortune that had 
befallen the whole country. A short extract from 
one of these papers is here inserted, as showing 
the temper and tone of these newspaper articles at 
the time. 

From the National Journal. 

That Mr. Barton has lost his election is a matter of regret, 
though not of surprise. It is to be regretted, because he was a 
useful and able member of the body to which he belonged. His 
State will lose in him one whose loss it cannot easily supply, be- 
cause he was always true to its interests, and always read}^ and 
willing to support its welfare. His fearless independence and his 
fine feelings made him a formidable opponent, while his talents 
and habits of reflection rendered him an able debater. The 
" palace slaves " cowered beneath the tempest of his invective, 
and the time-serving and ol^sequious members of executive ven- 
geance shrank from the blows which he inflicted. During the 
last session of Congress he nobly stood forth as the advocate of 
the rights of his country, and the deadly enemy of the base and 
relentless system of proscription which the despotic head of the 
present administration had, in the indulgence of his private malice 
and obstinate feelings, thought proper to introduce," etc., etc. 

A volume could be filled with such essavs as 
this. 



NOMINATED FOR REPRESENTATIVE. , 39 

As soon as David Barton retnrned from Wash- 
ington, his friends determined to run him for the 
House of Representatives, in opposition to Spencer 
Pettis, who was then the candidate for Congress 
of the Jackson party, which had an overwhehning 
majority in the State. A meeting was accordingly 
called and held for this purpose in the city hall in 
the city of St. Louis, on Thursday, the thirtieth day 
of June, 1831, of which William H. Hopkins was 
chosen chairman and Archibald Gamble appointed 
secretary, at which the following, among other 
proceedings, were had : — 

On motion, a committee was appointed to draft 
resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, 
whereupon the following gentlemen were appointed, 
to wit : Marie P. Leduc, Elijah P. Love joy, Edward 
Bates, Thomas Cohen, Hamilton P. Gamble, J. W. 
Paulding, John F. Darby, and Edward Tracy. 

The committee retired, and made a report recom- 
mending, amongst other things, the nomination of 
David Barton as a candidate for Congress. The 
committee notified Mr. Barton of his nomination, 
and he wi'ote a letter of acceptance, as follow^s : — 

St. Louis, July 81, 1831. 
Gentlemen: Although I have no desire at present to engage 
in public life, I am not disposed to abandon our cause when it 
may be in adversity, and shall feel proud to serve as a repre- 



40 DAVID BARTON. 

sentative in Congress if elected to that station. My principles 
of national policy are publicly known thoughout the State, etc. 
[It is deemed unnecessary to copy the whole letter.] 

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, etc., 

David Barton. 

,Of. all the gentlemen present at that meeting, 
and it was large, I am the only survivor ; all the rest 
have passed off the stage of life. The State of 
Missouri at that time, politically, belonged to the 
Jackson party by many thousands majority ; and 
David Barton, belonging to the opposition, was of 
course defeated. He was, however, elected after- 
wards to the State Senate, and served for four years; 
in the Legislature of Missouri as a senator from St. 
Louis County. This was the last pul^lic service per- 
formed by him. 

I became most intimate Avith Judge Barton after 
his retirement from the Senate, although I knew him 
well before. Many a time it was my pleasure and 
proud satisfaction to enjoy his rich conversation, and 
to walk out with him in the early morning before 
breakfast, to a spring on the Old Manchester Road, 
afterwards called Camp Spring, a mile distant from 
the Court House in St. Louis. 

There the great statesman and man of genius, 
retaining the early recollections and primitive habits 
of his boyish days, of drinking out of the mountain 



STERLING QUALITIES OF THE MAN, 41 

fountains of his native l^orth Carolina, would kneel 
down, and supporting his body with his hands, drink 
out of the fresh, sparkling spring itself. 

In this short sketch it is impossible to do justice 
to David Barton, and only a few incidents of his 
career have been given. That he was a great man, 
is admitted by all who had personal knowledge of 
him and were honored with his acquaintance. 

He was a man of the most sterling integrity and 
honesty. | 

The session of Congress would expire on the 4th 
of March, and the Senate would be convened the 
next day by the proclamation of the President, for 
executive business : it was charged upon many sen- 
ators that they made a claim for mileage, and re- 
ceived pay and compensation for such constructive 
journey. Barton always disdained to make such 
charge, and denounced it as illegal and wi'ong. 

An old friend and great admirer of Judge Bar- 
ton, who was about to get married while Barton 
was judge, insisted upon Judge Barton's coming to 
the wedding and performing the ceremony, as he 
was authorized by law to do. Barton attended the 
wedding, and performed the ceremony after this 
manner : The parties being present, stood up on the 
floor, where all the guests were assembled. The 



42 DAVID BARTON. 

judge asked, " John Smith, do you take Lucy Jones 
to be your wife? " He answered, '' I do." '^ Lucy 
Jones, do you take John Smith to be your husband?" 
She answered, ''I do." The judge then said, '' The 
contract is complete. I pronounce you man and 
wife." 

Judge Barton's manner was grave and sedate. 
He used no well-turned periods, no modulated ca- 
dences or flights of fancy. His gestures were few, 
and he carried his point l3y the force and power of 
his reasoning. Where most men failed in reasoning 
upon a difficult and abstruse question. Barton always 
rose and carried the minds of his hearers with him. 
Like a strong horse hauling a heavy load up a steep 
grade, he would carry the mind of his hearers with 
him step by step, and all would assent to his state- 
ments as fully as if he were demonstrating a mathe- 
matical proposition. 

The State of Missouri justly honored David Bar- 
ton as well as herself, first by naming a county after 
liim, and again by erecting a monument to his mem- 
ory. He was, in truth and in fact, one of the great 
men, not only of Missouri, but also of the nation. 
He never was married. He died at Boonville, Cooper 
County, Missouri, on the twenty-eighth day of Sep- 
tember, 1837, where he was buried. 



INSCRIPTIONS ON HIS MONUMENT. 43 

David Barton's remains are interred in "Walnut 
Orove Cemetery ^"^^ in the eastern part of the city of 
Boonville. Over the spot the State of Missonri has 

erected a monument. It is a plain shaft of wliite 
marble, about fourteen feet high, with the following- 
inscriptions : — 

(on the north side.) 

^'Iii memory of David Barton, born in Tennessee, December 
14, 1783. Died in Boonville, September 28, 1837." 

(on the west side.) 

*' He became a citizen of Missouri in 1800, was Attorney-General 

in 1813, Circuit Judge in 1815, and Speaker of the 

House of Representatives in 1818." 

(on the east side.) 

* ' He was President of the Convention that formed the State 

Constitution, Senator in Congress from 1820 to 1831, 

and in 1834 State Senator from St. Louis." 

(on the south side.) 

*'A profound jurist, an honest and able statesman, a just and 

benevolent man. 

Erected by the State of Missouri. 
1853." 

It will be seen that there are some mistakes made 
in the inscriptions, as to the dates when he came to 
the State and when he was circuit judge. On the 
right bank of the dark rolhng Missouri repose the 



44 MONSIEUR LA FITTE. 

remains of the illustrious statesman, David Barton. 
He sleeps there " that sleep that knows no waking." 
But so long as the swift current of that great river 
laves the shore where his l)ody lies, and empties its 
turbid waters into the Gulf of Mexico, will he live 
fresh in the memory and fond recollections of the 
great State he helped to found and iDuild up. Gen- 
eration after generation may be swept off down the 
current of time into the vortex of oblivion, but his 
is one of the few names ' ' that were not born to 
die ; ' ' the youth of each succeeding generation will 
be taught to revere and respect his memory, and 
moved to deeds of the noblest ambition by the 
story of his life. 

"His memory sparkles o'er the fountain, 
His spirit wraps the clnsky mountain ; 
Tlie meanest rill, the mightiest river, 
Rolls mino'liiio; with his name forever. ' ' 



The last and concluding lines of Byron's ''Cor- 
sair ' ' run thus : — 

'"Tis morn — to venture on his lonely hour 
Few dare ; though now Anselmo sought his tower 
He was not there — nor seen alono- the shore. 
Ere night, alarm' d, their isle is traversed o'er. 
Another morn — another bids them seek, 



THE PIPvATES OF BARATAKIA. 45 

^ And shout his name till echo waxeth weak ; 
Mount — grotto — cavern — valley search' d in vain, 
They find on shore a sea-boat's broken chain: 
Their hope revives — they follow o'er the main. 
'Tis idle all — moons roll on moons awa}^, 
And Conrad comes not — came not since that day : 
Nor trace, nor tidings of his doom declare, 
Where lives his grief, or perish 'd his despair ! 
Long mourn' d his band whom none could mourn beside ; 
And fair the monument they gave his bride : 
For him they raise not the recording stone — 
His death yet dubious, deeds too widely known ; 
He left a Corsair's name to other times, 
Link'd with one virtue, and a thousand crimes." 

To the foregoing is a note from Byron in these 
words : — 

Note 17, page 133, last line. 

"Link'd with one virtue, and a thousand crimes." 

That the point of honor which is represented in 
one instance of (Jonrad's character has not been 
carried beyond the bounds of probability may per- 
haps be in some degree confirmed by the following 
anecdote of a brother buccaneer in the year 1814. 

Our readers have all seen the account of the 
enterprise against the pirates of Barataria ; but 
few, we believe, are informed of the situation, 
history, or nature of the establishment. For the 
information of such as are unacquainted with it 
we have procured from a friend the following inter- 



46 MONSIEUR LA FITTE. 

estiiiir narrative of the main facts, of which he has 
personal knowledge, and which cannot fail to interest 
some of onr readers : — 

Barataria is a hay, or narrow arm of the Gulf of 
Mexico ; it runs through a rich hut very flat country, 
until it reaches within a mile of the Mississippi River 
fifteen miles helow the city of ^N'ew Orleans. The 
bay has branches almost innumerable, in wliich per- 
sons can be concealed from the severest scrutiny. 
It communicates with three lakes which lie on the 
south-west side, and these with the lake of the same 
name and which lies contiguous to the sea, where 
there is an island formed by the two arms of the 
lakes and the sea. The east and the west points of 
this island were fortified, in the year 1811, by a band 
of pirates under the command of one Monsieur La 
Fitte. A large majority of these outlaws were of 
that class of the population of the State of Louisiana 
which fled from the island of San Domingo during 
the troubles there and took refuge in the island of 
Cuba, and when the last war between France and 
Spain commenced were compelled to leave the island 
upon short notice. Without ceremony they entered 
the United States, the most of them the State of 
Louisiana, with all the negroes they possessed in 
Cuba. They were notified by the governor of that 



EXPEDITION AGAINST THE OUTLAWS. 47 

State of the clause in the Constitution which forbade 
the importation of slaves, but at the same time 
received the assurance of the governor that he would 
obtain, if possible, the approbation of the general 
government for their retaining this property. 

The island of Barataria is situated about latitude 
20 deg. 15 min., longitude 92 deg\ 30 min., and is as 
remarkable for its health as for the superior scale 
and shell fish with which its waters abound. In the 
year 1813 this party had, from its turpitude and 
boldness, claimed the attention of the governor of 
Louisiana ; and to break up the establishment, he 
thought to strike at the head. He therefore offered 
a reward of $500 for the head of Monsieur La Fitte, 
who was well known to the mhabitants of the city of 
'New Orleans from his immediate connection, and his 
once having been a fencmg-master of great reputa- 
tion in that city, an art which he had learned in 
Bonaparte's army while he was a captain. The 
offer of the governor was answered by the offer of 
a reward from La Fitte of $15,000 for the head of the 
governor. The governor ordered out a company to 
march from the city to La Fitte' s island, and to burn 
and destroy all the property and to brmg to the 
city of ^N^ew Orleans all his banditti. This company, 
under the command of a man who had been the 



48 MONSIEUK LA FITTE. 

intimate associate of this bold captain, approached 
very near to the fortified island before he saw a man 
or heard a sonnd. He snddenly heard a whistle not 
unhke a boatman's call, and found himself surrounded 
by armed men who had emerged from the secret 
avenues which led into the bayou. It was upon this 
occasion that the modern Charles de Moor developed 
his few noble traits ; for to the man who had come 
to destroy him and all that was dear to him he not 
only spared life, but offered that Avhich would have 
made the honest soldier easy for the remamder of liis 
days. Upon liis kindness being indignantly refused, 
La Fitte allowed his prisoner to return to the city. 
It became evident that tliis band of pirates was not 
to be taken by land. So soon as the augmentation 
of the navy authorized an attack by water, one was 
successfully made ; and now that tliis almost m vul- 
nerable point and key to 'New Orleans is clear of an 
enemy, it is to be hoped the government will hold it 
by a strong mihtary force. 

Several of La Fitte' s men lived and died m St. 
Louis. With three of them, namely, Michel Marie 
(in particular), Martin Durand, and Pierre Dervin, 
I was personally well acquamted, having known 
them in the city of St. Louis for about fifteen years. 
They were all Frenchmen, and all small men, — rather 



MICHEL MARLE'S REMINISCENCES. 49 

under the middle size. Michel Marie used always 
to take an active part in elections ; and when I w^as 
a candidate before the people for various offices, such 
as the mayoralty, the Legislature, and Congress, 
Michel Marie was always on hand as one of my 
most enthusiastic and zealous supporters. On such 
occasions he would go to the polls, and would shout 
and cheer for his candidate in the most boister- 
ous and vehement manner. He used to recite many 
incidents and anecdotes connected mth the career of 
La Fitte. He said that after La Fitte had offered 
the $15,000 reward for the head of the governor of 
Louisiana (which he did in all the French and 
English newspapers printed in Xcav Orleans, the 
morning after the governor had offered a rcAvard of 
$500 for the head of La Fitte), liis excellency became 
alarmed at the large reward offered for his head, 
and for some days secreted himself in his house, lest 
the great reward offered might be an inducement to 
parties to kidnap or capture him. And when after- 
wards he did venture into the streets, he alwavs 
had some person Avith him as a protector or body- 
guard. 

Another story of La Fitte' s adventures, as related 
by Michel Marie, was this : La Fitte had obtamed in- 
formation that a merchant vessel Avas soon to sail from 



50 MONSIEUR LA FITTE. 

Vera Cruz for London with an immense amount of 
gold and silver coin on board. La Fitte determined 
to capture her and secure the treasure. He started 
out from Barataria with one of his best ships, well 
armed and equipped, and with a strong force of picked 
men. He beat about in the Gulf of Mexico for some 
days, just out of sight of land, waiting for the vessel 
with the treasure to leave port. At last the merchant- 
man started on her voyage. She had barely got out 
of sight of land when she was discovered by La Fitte, 
who bore down upon her with his piratical craft and 
captured her, with all her treasure. 

Amongst others on board was found a lady pas- 
senger dressed in black, and also a Catholic priest. 
When the men took hold of the priest, they inquired 
of their commander what should be done with him. 
" Overboard with him," shouted La Fitte; and the 
man of sacred calling was tossed into the sea. As 
the body of the holy father struck the water, his 
black gown filled full of air and spread out over the 
surface ; he soon sank beneath the waves, making the 
sign of the cross as he went down, to rise no more. 
Towards the lady dressed in black the piratical hero 
would suffer no disrespect, indignity, or insult, and 
finally had her conveyed in safety to IN'ew Orleans. 
La Fitte had barely secured all the treasure and 



ONE OF THE STORIES TOLD OF THE PIRATE. 51 

sunk the merchant vessel, when, turnmg his course 
toward his rendezvous at Barataria, he saw in the 
distance an Enghsh man-of-war pressing- down u2)on 
him under full sail. He ordered all sails spread, 
and endeavored to i*un away from the hostile ship. 
Every possible exertion was made to escape, yet the 
formidable enemy seemed visibly gaining on the 
pirate, and approaching nearer and nearer every min- 
ute. La Fitte announced to his confederates that it 
was impossible to escape from the pursuing vessel, 
and that they must therefore prepare to fight her. 
He made a speech to his men, brief but to the point, 
and told them that they all knew what would be their 
fate if they were captured, and therefore "every 
man must fight till he dies." The man-of-war came 
booming up under full sail, and fired a shot across 
the boAv of the piratical vessel. La Fitte was ready 
for action, and retui*ned the fire promptly and with 
spirit. The British fired always as the vessel rose 
upon the wave, which caused the shot very often to 
pass over the vessel without striking her ; while the 
pirates fired always as the vessel sunk in the wave, 
and nearly every shot struck her adversary and 
counted with effect as a serious damage to the bel- 
ligerent vessel. La Fitte had a most experienced 
and eflS.cient gunner. While the captain of the man- 



52 - MONSIEUR LA FITTE. 

of-war was standing on the deck of his vessel 
waving his sword over his head, and cheering and 
encouraghig his men in the midst of the fight, a shot 
from the pirate cut off both his legs just above the 
ankle, and the brave commander fell upon the deck. 
He did not forget his position, and retaining his self- 
possession, he called for a barrel of flour, which was 
brought from the hold of the vessel ; the head was 
knocked out, and some of the flour was tumbled out 
on the deck. The intrepid captain ordered the men 
to lift him up and set him upright in the barrel of 
flour, with the stumps of his legs set down in the 
flour to keep him from bleeding to death. The gal- 
lant captain, standing upright upon his stumps in the 
flour-barrel, again waved his sword over his head, 
and again cheered and encouraged his men. The 
fight went l)ravely on ; l^roadside after broadside 
belched forth from the brass cannon of each ship ; 
the combat was desperate and doubtful. LaFitte's 
men were the best gunners, and seemed to give the 
most damaging and effective shots. At last one of 
the men came running to the captain of the pirate, 
and told him that the shot was all out. "Load up 
the guns with doubloons and dollars," cried the ready-, 
witted commander ; which was done instantly. The 
British sailors and seamen, finding themselves fired 



EFFECT OF SPECIE PAYMENT. 53 

into and shot down with gold and silver coin, became 
panic-stricken, and almost paralyzed with terror; 
and as the man-of-war had ceased firing, La Fitte 
made good his escape, having won the fight. He 
whipped the man-of-war and sailed away, with the 
balance of the valuable treasure that had not been 
shot away at the British, to his place of safety at 
Barataria. Such is one among the numerous stories 
of La Fitte' s adventures and perils as detailed by 
Michel Marie, who claimed to have been in the en- 
gagement, and spent many years in the service of the 
the renowned piratical hero of the Gulf of Mexico. 



About nine A. M. on the 29th day of April, 
1825, Gen. Lafayette, in a tour through the country, 
arrived in St. Louis on the steamboat Natchez. 
The steamboat on which he had left 'New Orleans 
tied up the night before at the village of Carondelet, 
five miles below the city. Li the meantime the news 
spread throughout the city that the distinguished 
visitor would arrive in town the next mornino-. 
Everybody was up bright and early in the morning 
to meet and greet the great man. 

Li order to miderstand the subject properly, it is 



§4 GEN. LAFAYETTE. 

but right to give a short statement of the condition of 
the town and affairs at that time . There was no wharf 
in front of the city. At the foot of Market Street, and 
again at the foot of what was then called Oak Street, 
now Morgan Street, were the only two landings in the 
city. From a short distance north of Market Street 
all the way up to Morgan Street the primitive bluffs 
of the Mississippi rose up in a state of nature, to the 
height of twenty feet, and in some places more : as 
the French called it, "' ores ecore dti Mississippi/ " — 
the abrupt wall or perpendicular bank of the Missis- 
sippi River. Seventh Street was the western 
limit of the city, beyond which were the fences of 
Judge John B. Lucas, Maj. Christy, and others, 
enclosing pastures, meadows, etc. The court-house 
square was entirely vacant, except a pillory and 
whipping-post in the centre, on which malefactors, 
rogues, and evil-doers not sentenced to be hanged 
were whipped .with a raw cowhide on their bare backs 
by the sheriff of the county, who in each particular 
case was sworn by the clerk of the court " to lay on 
the lashes to the best of his skill and ability, so help 
him God. " Market Street only extended to Eighth 
Street; all beyond that to the west was Chouteau's 
Pond, woods, hazel-brush, etc., etc. All the space 
between Market Street and Washington Avenue and 



HE VISITS ST. LOUIS. 55 

Fourth and Fifth Streets was unimproved, — no 
houses, no enclosures ; all in a state of nature, — no 
grading, no paving. 

At that time the city of St. Louis had only been 
incorporated a little more than a year. Dr. 
"William Carr Lane was mayor. He was a man of 
fine personal appearance indeed; and was, besides, an 
accomplished scholar, of the most noble and generous 
impulses, and of pleasing and winning manners and 
address. 

The seat of government of the State of Missouri 
was then located at St. Charles, and Frederick Bates 
was governor. As there was no executive mansion 
at St. Charles, and the Legislature was not in session. 
Gov. Bates stayed mostly at home on Ms farm, up 
in Bonhomme, on the bluffs of the Missouri River 
in St. Louis County, about five miles above St. 
Charles. During his absence from the seat of gov- 
ernment. Gov. Bates would leave the executive de- 
partment of the State in the hands of his secretary of 
state, Hamilton Rowan Gamble. Gov. Bates would 
go over to St. Charles every week and stay a day or 
so, as business required. When the city authorities 
found that Gen. Lafayette was about to \dsit St. 
Louis, they, in those primitive days of honest mu- 
nicipal governments, began to doubt their authority 



56 (^EN. LAFAYETTE. 

to appropriate money from the treasury to entertain 
their visitor. 

Dr. Wilham Carr Lane, the mayor, in this emer- 
gency, took his horse and rode all the way ovit 
to Gov. Bates's farm, more than twenty miles from 
St. Louis, to beg the governor to come into town 
and receive Gen. Lafayette ; the expectation being 
that some of the moneyed men would advance the 
funds with which to entertain the general, and that if 
the governor would take part, they would afterwards 
get the State to make an appropriation to cover the 
expenses of the entertainment. 

Gov. Frederick Bates refused to have anything to 
do with the matter. He said the State had made no 
appropriation to entertain Gen. Lafayette, and that 
he would take no part in any proceeding of any 
kind unless there had been money enough provided 
to entertain him in a manner becoming the dignity 
and character of the State. 

Dr. William Carr Lane told the writer hereof 
that he returned from the visit to Gov. Bates de- 
spondent, disheartened, and almost discouraged. 
But something must be done, and that quickly. His 
honor the mayor went around and saw the alder- 
men, Joseph Charless, Archibald Gamble, Henry 
Yon Phul, Mary P. Leduc, William H. Savage, and 



AN ECONOMICAL RECEPTION. 57 

others. These gentlemen decided that they would 
take from the city treasury so much money as was 
necessary to entertain Gen. Lafayette, and if there 
was any objection made they would join together and 
refund the same. That worthy and good man, Dr. 
William Carr Lane, informed me afterwards — for 
we talked upon the subject of Gen. Lafayette's visit 
hundreds of times afterwards — that the whole ex- 
pense of entertaining the distinguished guest to the 
city was exactly thirty-seven dollars. The people all 
seemed to acquiesce in the expenditure, although 
there was no authority in the charter. Indeed, these 
worthy officials of the city government economized 
and managed to the best advantage, the efficient, 
active, and energetic mayor taking the lead. They 
went to Maj. Pierre Chouteau and engaged his 
house as the quarters of Gen. Lafayette. Maj. 
Chouteau was a man of great wealth, and as gener- 
ous as he was rich, and granted the use of his house, 
costly, elegantly and richly furnished as it was, as 
the headquarters of Gen. Lafayette. Here apart- 
ments were prepared for the general, free of expense. 
At that early day there were no hacks or carriages 
in St. Louis, and the next move was to get a con- 
veyance to take the expected guest from the steam- 
boat to the quarters thus provided for him. Maj. 



58 (^EN. LAFAYETTE. 

Thomas Biddle, paymaster in the United States 
Army, brother of Nicholas Biddle, at that time 
president of the United States Bank, had a baronche 
and two white horses ; and Judge James H. Peck, 
of the United States District Court, had a barouche 
and two white horses. Maj. Biddle was kind enough 
to lend his barouche and horses for the occasion , and 
Judge Peck was so obhging as to lend his two white 
horses to the city authorities, to convey the great 
man from the steamboat to his quarters. The 
proper committee of reception had been appointed 
on the part of the Board of Aldermen, designated by 
ribbons worn through the button-holes in the lapels 
of their coats. Sullivan Blood, then town constable, 
had been appointed grand marshal of the day, with 
John Simonds, Jr., and John K. Walker, assistant 
marshals. The arrangements were now all complete 
to receive and welcome Gen. Lafayette. The people 
of the whole city began to assemble at the foot of 
Market Street, on the 29th day of April, 1825 ; and 
shortly after nine o'clock in the morning the steam- 
boat Natchez was seen down the river, in the Caho- 
kia Bend, with colors flyiug. It took but a few 
minutes for the boat to reach, the foot of Market 
Street. The crowd was great ; old and young, 
men, women, and children, white and black, had 



A LUDICROUS INCIDENT. 59 

assembled together, and when the boat touched the 
shore there was considerable cheering. As soon as 
the planks had been run out from the boat to the 
shore, Gen. Lafayette came on shore, where he was 
met by and introduced to the mayor, William Carr 
Lane. The mayor had his address of welcome writ- 
ten out, and commenced to read it to the distin- 
guished visitor. The mayor's voice was low, and 
although it was a fine piece of composition, the noise 
and confusion were so great that very few persons 
could hear it. To this address the eminent visitor 
replied in appropriate terms. The mayor was sur- 
rounded with his aldermen and committees of recep- 
tion. There Avas no military party or power present 
at the reception, and it was almost impossible for the 
marshal to keep order in the crowd. 

Amongst the outskirts of the multitude Avas a 
butcher by the name of Roth — Jacob Roth ; he 
rode a sorrel hoi'se with a long tail, the hair of which 
had been cut square off at the end. At that period 
most of the people of the town kept their own cows, 
and the cattle ranged out on the prairie and came 
home at night to the domicile of the respective 
owners. This man Roth had been indicted in the 
Circuit Court for stealing the people's coavs and 
making beef of them, which in many instances he 



60 GEN. LAFAYETTE. 

would sell to the real owners. On the occasion of 
the reception of Lafayette, Roth was very greasy, 
from the handling of meats, and he held in hand a 
greasy leather whip, with which he was accustomed 
to drive cattle. So soon as Gen. Lafayette had 
replied to the address of welcome made by Mayor 
William Carr Lane, Jacob Roth jumped off his horse 
and ran up to Lafayette, saying, as loud as he could 
shout, " Whooraw for liberty ! Old fellow, just give 
us your hand. Whooraw for liberty ! Hand out your 
paw ; old fellow, just give us your hand. How are 
you?" — and seizing Lafayette by the hand, he 
shook it violently. 

Just at that moment one of the committeemen, 
who had imbibed considerable, seeing the butcher 
Roth, in his greasy plight, shaking hands with 
Lafayette so violently, called out to him, and said : 
" Go 'way ! Go 'way from there, I tell you ! You 
stole a cow." To this Roth replied, " I'm as good 
as you are, you old puss-g — rascal, if I did steal a 
cow." The same inebriated committeeman was 
afraid Lafayette would fall into bad company, and 
he went up to the distinguished visitor and took him 
by the arm, and pointing to Jacob Roth, said, 
''Don't you associate with that fellow! he stole a 



cow." 



THE PKOCESSION. 61 

The barouche with the four white horses was now 
brought into requisition ; Gen. Lafayette was assisted 
into the carriage ; the mayor, William Carr Lane, was 
seated by his side on the back seat ; and Col. Auguste 
Chouteau, with Laclede, the founder of the town, 
and Stephen Hempstead, an old Revolutionary soldier, 
originally from Connecticut, who had fought with 
Lafayette in the War of the Revolution, took the front 
seat. These four filled the carriage. The horses 
were balky, and at first would not pull, never having 
been worked together before. After some delay, the 
vehicle was driven up to the quarters prepared for G-en. 
Lafayette at Maj. Pierre Chouteau's elegant mansion, 
where the distinguished guest was to receive com- 
pany. The great body of the people followed on 
foot behind the carriage. The horse troop of Capt. 
Archibald Gamble, which in the meantime had 
formed and taken position on Main Street in front of 
Col. Auguste Chouteau's residence, more than a 
square from the reception at the foot of Market 
Street, now joined in the procession, in the rear of the 
great body of the people walking behind the carriage, 
and proceeded up Main Street to Maj. Chouteau's 
mansion. All the men from Capt. Gamble's com- 
pany dismounted from their horses, getting some 
boys to hold them, formed into line on foot, and 



62 GEN. LAFAYETTE. 

with drawn swords marched on to the piazza of the 
building, where they formed into single line, when 
Gen. Lafayette was brought, on the arm of the 
mayor, and introduced to them. After the military 
reception, Gen. Lafayette took some gentleman by 
the arm and marched along in front of the line, and 
was introduced to each member of the troop sepa- 
rately, by name, and when so introduced, shook hands 
with every individual. The members of the com- 
pany then withdrew. 

There was then living in St. Louis an old 
Frenchman by the name of Alexander Bellesseme. 
He was commonly called ''Old Eleckzan." He was 
a very old man, and had lived in St. Louis many 
years, keeping a tavern on Second Street, on the 
west side, between Myrtle and Spruce Streets. He 
had been one of Lafayette's soldiers in the Revolu- 
tionary War, had come with him from France, and 
had helped to fight for American liberty. He had 
been shot through the shoulder and had been left 
for dead upon the battle-field at Yorktown. But he 
had recovered, and had crawled out from the dead 
and wounded upon that historic field of hiunan gore, 
and had with limping gait and shattered frame, many 
years before, made his way from the East to St. 
Louis, where he met a French population, and where 



AN AFFECTING MEETING. 63 

he could fraternize with a people who were consonant 
in feehng, in notions of life, in sympathy, in social 
intercourse, and religion. As soon as Gen. Lafayette 
had withdrawn from his presentation to the military 
troop of Capt. Gamble, Alexander Bellesseme pre- 
sented himself before him, and asked the general if 
he knew him. Lafayette paused, looked at him, and 
scrutinized him closely, and then replied that he did 
not. Mr. Bellesseme then told the general who he 
was, and related some incident which happened on 
board the ship as they were coming from France, 
wliich Lafayette remembered, and thus brought him 
to mind. At this the two old soldiers rushed into 
each other's arms, embraced and hugged each other 
warmly, and shed tears of joy most profusely. The 
man of world-wide fame and renown pressing to his 
bosom the war-woi*n veteran w^ho had contributed so 
much to his greatness and glory, had a most touching 
effect upon all present, and there was not a dry eye in 
the room. There was, however, no '' Beecherism" 
in the case. 

After the distinguished visitor had received a great 
many calls, he was taken in the barouche, now drawn 
by two horses only, and with some of the gentlemen in 
attendance driven upon the hill and around the to^vn 
to see the city. It so happened that Capt. David B. 



64 GEN. LAFAYETTE. ' 

Hill, who was a commander of a militia company, 
had his men out on parade on the green court-house 
square, then unimproved. 

Capt. David B. Hill was a carpenter and l)uilder. 
He was a man of singular peculiarities. He died in 
St. Louis about the year 1873, at the advanced age 
of eighty-four years. He wore colored spectacles, 
with side-glasses ; was addicted to the habit of tak- 
ing snuff in immoderate quantities. He spoke with 
a wliining accent through his nose. As soon as 
Capt. Hill saw Gen. Lafayette approaching in the 
barouche, he became very much excited, and began 
to take snuff. ''Gentlemen," said he, " Gen. La- 
fayette, the great apostle of liberty, is coming. You 
must prepare to salute Gen. Lafayette, the great 
apostle of liberty [taldng more snuff] . Attention, 
company ! All you in roundabouts, or short-tailed 
coats, take the rear rank. All you with long- 
tailed coats take the front rank." The captain 
paused to take a fresh supply of snuff into his nasal 
organ. '']N^ow," said the commander of the com- 
pany, ''all those having sticks, laths, and umbrellas 
in the front rank, exchange them with those who 
have guns in the rear rank." Just then Robert ]N^. 
Moore, commonly called "Big Bob Moore," a noted 
individual about town, called out to Capt. Hill, and 



CAPT. HILL'S COMPANY "PRESENT ARMS." Q^ 

said, ^'Capting! Capting ! I say, Cooney Fox is 
priming his gun with brandy. ' ' ' ' I' 11 be concarned, ' ' 
said Capt. Hill, ''if it isn't a scandalous shame, to 
be guilty of such conduct right in the presence of 
Gen. Lafayette, — at the most important period of 
a man's whole ^ life, — when about to salute Gen. 
Lafayette. If it warn't for the presence of Gen. 
Lafayette, the great apostle of liberty, I'd put you 
under arrest immediately." 

By this time the general had alighted from the 
carriage, and walked up in front of Capt. David B. 
Hill's company, when the captain ordered the com- 
pany to ''present arms;" after which the visitor 
withdrew and entered his carriage. It may be sup- 
posed that in all the wars in which Gen. Lafayette 
had been engaged, he had never met or encountered a 
more Falstaffian miHtary organization. This much 
is due to Capt. David B. Hill's military genius, as 
showing his ready resource of mind in case of an 
emergency. It is proper to state that Capt. David 
B. Hill had military taste, and that he afterwards 
organized a fine military company of volunteers, 
elegantly uniformed, which he called the " Marions," 
in honor of the distinguished Revolutionary patriot, 
which he took great .pride in commanding, and 
which he paraded on the Fourth of July and other 

5 



66 GEN. LAFAYETTE. 

public occasions. This independent company of 
Capt. Hill's some mischievous pei-sons nicknamed 
Capt. Davy Iliirs ''Mary Anns," by which name 
they were generally known and called. 

Gen. Lafayette got into the carriage and was 
driven to the Freemasons' lodge, where he was duly 
received as an honoi'ary member. From thence he 
was driven back to his quarters, where he received 
calls and visits until four o'clock, when he was most 
sumptuously and elegantly entertained with a fine 
dinner, at which were all the oflficials and prominent 
citizens of the town. 

In the evening a splendid ball was given in honor 
of the man of world-wide fame, glory, and distinc- 
tion, at the City Hotel, on the corner of Vine and 
Third Streets, where all of the most elegant and 
accomplished people of the city were asseml)led. 

Gen. Lafayette, after supper at the ball, was 
taken by the committee from the ball-room to the 
steamboat, at the foot of Market Street, whei*e he 
slept. His baggage had not been removed from the 
boat. He was under engagement to meet a com- 
mittee of citizens of the State of Illinois at the Kas- 
kaskia Landing, on the Mississippi River, the next 
day at twelve o'clock, and be escorted to that ancient 
and time-honored town, at that time the capital of 
that great State, and therefore could not delay. 



FINAL ADIEU TO ST. LOUIS. 67 

The next morning, when all the inhabitants of 
the city slnnibered after the exciting and festive 
scenes of the day and night before, just at the dawn 
of day, the steamboat Natchez raised steam, pushed 
off into the current, and glided down the Mississippi 
River with the great man on board. He was not 
disturbed in his slumbers till the steamer was in tha 
vicinity of the dilapidated town of Herculaneum, 
almost half-way to the Kaskaskia Landing, when he 
was summoned to breakfast. 

The general, on his visit here, was accompanied! 
by his son, George Washington Lafayette; M. L. 
Vassieur, his secretary; Mr. D. Lyon, Col. Moore, 
Col. Duross, Mr. Prieut, recorder of ISTew Orleans ; 
Mr. Creive, secretary of the governor of Louisiana, 
and one or two others. 



Amongst the distinguished men engaged in laying 
the foundation of this city and building up the same, 
no one was more prominent than John Mullanphy. 
He was amongst the earliest settlers in St. Louis 
after the acquisition of the country by the govern- 
ment of the United States, arriving here as early as 
about the year 1804, where he lived, except when 



G8 JOHN MULLANPHY. 

occasionally absent, up to the time of his death, 
Avhich occurred in July, 1833, at the age of about 
sixty-nine years. 

Mr. Mullanphy was an Irishman by birth, and 
when a young man went forth from his native land 
to France, joined the army, and became a non-com- 
missioned officer in the Irish Brigade, and remained 
till the brigade was dispersed during the French 
Revolution, when Louis XYI. and his queen were 
imprisoned and executed. He served in the army of 
the great ^N'apoleon, and being honorably discharged, 
he returned to Ireland, where he married an Irish 
lady, and then came to the United States in the year 
1795. When he first came to' the country he settled 
and lived for awhile in Philadelphia, and afterwards 
in Baltimore, where he was engaged in keeping a 
small store. He resided in Baltimore several years, 
after which he purchased a quantity of books and 
stationary, and in 1798 removed with liis family to 
Frankfort, Kentucky, where he became domiciled, 
and opened a book-store. Here he resided for 
several years. The country was all new and thinly 
settled, and books at that early day were in great 
demand. All this occurred before the year 1800. 
A man of but limited education, so far as the knowl- 
edge of books was concerned, he was possessed of 



ESTABLISHES A BUSINESS IN ST. LOUIS. 69 

great powers of mind, and had most thoroughly read 
and studied mankind and the world, and was fully 
acquainted with all its lights and shades. 

He, however, read much, and had one of the finest 
libraries of any gentleman west of the Mississippi. 
Mr. Mullanphy was, moreover, a man of great enter- 
prise, foresight, and judgment. As early as the year 
1802 (perhaps before that time), he built a brig at 
Frankfort, on the Kentucky River, loaded her with 
produce and sent her to the East Indies, while the 
mouth of the Mississippi River was yet in the posses- 
sion and under the control and dominion of Spain. 
Mr. Mullanphy, after his removal to and settlement 
in St. Louis, in 1814, a step which he took mainly at 
the suggestion of the late Charles Gratiot, opened a 
large store and did a lucrative business, living with 
his family in a very liumble and unpretending way. 
He was also appointed a justice of the peace in this 
city, one among the first appointments made under 
the United States government. From his long 
service in the French army, he had the advantage of 
understanding and speaking the French language 
fluently and w^ell. By this means he was able to 
transact business with ease with the inhal)itants, 
among whom the French language prevailed. In 
his day and time, Mr. Mullanphy built many houses, 



70 JOHN MULLANPHY. 

t 

and contributed more than any other mdividual to the 
building up of St. Louis. He was frequently elected 
alderman, and was always at his post, taking an 
active and prominent part in planning and projecting 
improvements, and supporting zealously everything 
tending to advance the city's interest and prosperity. 
He was a director in the Branch Bank of the United 
States at St. Louis from the time of its establish- 
ment, in 1829, until his death. He took more stock 
in the Louisville and Portland Canal, and advanced 
more money toward that enterprise, than any other 
man in the United States. 

John Mullanphy was most liberal in his gifts for 
charitable objects and purposes, and no one who has 
ever lived in St. Louis has done so much for objects 
of this chai'acter. He made a gift of that large 
piece of ground on which the Sisters of Charity 
Hospital was situated, extending from Third to 
Fourth Streets, and from Spruce to Almond Streets. 
He also made a lease of that large and valuable piece 
of ground opposite the South Market, on Fourth 
Street, where the Sacred Heart convent is situated, 
for educational purposes, and for the maintenance of 
twenty-five orphan girls as long as the trust is com- 
plied with ; the lease being made for nine hundred 
and ninety-nine years, and the full consideration 



HIS UNOSTENTATIOUS CHARITY. 71 

being the sum of one dollar. He also furnished and 
built, at his own individual cost and expense, the 
nunnery and convent in the town of Florissant, 
where he lived foi- a number of years. Mr. Mullan- 
phy was a Catholic, and most firmly attached to the 
teaching's and doctrines of that church. He was 
liberal and unostentatio.us in what he did. 

At one time Mr. Daniel D. Page was the only 
person who kept a baker's shop in St. Louis. It 
was located on Main Street, below Walnut Street. 
It was said that Mr. Mullanphy went to Mr. Page, 
privately, and gave him three or four hundi'ed dollars 
in money, and cautioned him not to speak of it or 
mention the matter to any one, but to give out bread 
to the poor families and indigent ])ersons who should 
call for it, as if it was a gift from the baker himself ; 
and when he (Page) had distributed bread in that 
way to the amount of money deposited, to let him 
know, and he would deposit more money. AVlien, 
therefore, little barefooted boys or gu-ls, pooi'ly clad, 
would go to the bakery, shy, timid, and almost afraid 
to come up to the counter, having no money, Mr. 
Page would call them in and give them one, two, or 
three loaves of bread, — as much as the family re- 
quired. The news soon spread abix)ad that ''Page 
was giving bread to all the poor people down town,'^ 



72 JOHN MULLANPHY. 

and Mr. Page's name and praise Avas in the month 
of every one. 

Mr. Mnllanphy was a man of strong prejndices, 
and most tenaeions of his rights. He has told the 
writer freqnently that he wonld spend a thonsand 
dollars before he w^onld be cheated or defranded ont 
of one dollar. In eonseqnenee of the large nnmber 
of bnildings erected by him, and the immense amonnt 
of property owned by him, he was frequently en- 
gaged in lawsuits with mechanics, laborers, and 
others, who sned him, and, as he considered, imposed 
upon him. In the course of this litigation the suits 
were frequently transferred, on a change of venue, 
to St. Charles County. This was, of course, before 
the days of railroads. Mr. Mnllanphy always w^ent 
to St. Charles with his lawyers to look after his law- 
suits, his conveyance being a small wagon, which his 
servant would drive. On these occasions he would 
always take a box of his pure wine, labelling his box 
" Tracts ;" for he imported foi* his own use the finest 
and purest wine ever drank in St. Louis. He fur- 
nished his counsel on these occasions with this fine 
wine ; and in the evening, after court-hours, at the 
hotel in St. Charles, was most entertaining and inter- 
esting in giving his recollections of IS^apoleon and 
the reminiscences of his service in the French army. 



ALWAYS TENACIOUS OF HIS LEGAL RIGHTS. 73 

As illustrating- somewhat his tenacity in standing" 
up for liis rights in a lawsuit, the following circum- 
stance may be mentioned : Amongst oth(^r posses- 
sions, Mr. Mullanphy owned a brewery. He em- 
ployed ''old Victor Hab," as he was familiarly 
called, to bore out a pump, for the doing of which 
Mr. Hab charged Mr. Mullanphy seven dollars. Mr. 
Mullanphy refused to pay. Hab sued him before 
Justice Garnier, Mr. John Bent being his lawyer. I 
was employed by Mr. Mullanphy to defend. Judg- 
ment was given against Mr. Mullanphy, who took 
an appeal to the Circuit Court, where, as counsel for 
the defendant, I nonsuited the plaintiff. Mr. Hab 
sued him again before the justice, whei*e he again 
obtained judgment ; the defendant again took an 
appeal to the higher court, where I again nonsuited 
the plaintiff. The result was that, from the large 
number of witnesses attending, Mr. Hab w^as mulcted 
about fifty dollars costs. My client paid me twenty 
dollars rather than pay the two dollars difference 
between himself and the plaintiff, besides losing the 
time in attending court ; for he was always present, 
and sat by the counsel who tried his suits. 

Another peculiarity about Mr. Mullanphy w^as his 
great antipathy to Masonry. He used to say that 
the Freemasons had cheated him out of fifty thou- 



74: JOHN MULL AN PHY. 

sand dollars in verdicts. One day, in trying a case in 
court, the witness on the stand testifying before the 
jury put his hand up to his head and ran his fingers 
through his hair. "Look! look!" said Mr. Mul- 
lanphy, elbowing his lawyer, ''he's giving the jury 
the sign ; he's a Freemason." 

He used to come to my office and show me their 
" grips and signs," saying, " You are a young man, 
and I want to admonish you to look out for these 
fellows." At that time there was great excitement 
on the subject of Freemasonry, growing out of the 
Morgan affair in New York. 

Another incident showing Mr. Mullanphy's char- 
acter is this : Once he went to collect four dollars 
rent due from a poor widow. The woman tried 
hard to beg off, and asked him to forgive her the 
rent. "You are a rich man," she said, "and will 
never miss it." "No," said the landlord, "you 
must pay the rent." She paid it and he left. Mr. 
Mullanphy went the same day and bought a cow, and 
sent it to the woman as a present, and told her she 
could sell milk enough from that cow to pay her 
rent, and have enough left for herself, — that she must 
"help herself.'' On another occasion, when sitting 
at the board with the directors in the Branch Bank' 
of the United States, a note of a mechanic for five 



HIS COTTON SEIZED BY GEN. JACKSON. 75 

hundred dollars came up for discount. Every mem- 
ber of the board except Mr. Mullanphy voted 
against it. Mr. Mullanphy asked why the note 
was rejected, as the maker was good. Some mem- 
ber answered for the board, and said the indorser 
was not responsible. Mr. Mullanphy asked a gen- 
tleman next him at the board to move to reconsider 
the vote by which the note was rejected, wliich was 
done in obedience to his request. Mr. Mullanphy 
immediatelv wrote his own name across the back of 

4. 

the note, and said, " Will it pass now, gentlemen? " 
It was, of course, voted for by the whole board ex- 
cept the last indorser, who could not vote on his own 
indorsement by the rules. 

There was a story told of the manner in which 
Mullanphy had made his immense fortune, which is 
as follows : He went to ^New Orleans during the War 
of 1812, and was there buying cotton when Gen. 
Jackson was maldng preparations to receive the 
British. Gen. Jackson's quartermaster took all the 
cotton in the place to make breastworks, Mullanphy' s 
cotton among the rest. Mr. Mullanphy was very 
angry because his cotton was taken, and said he 
would go and see Gen. Jackson. He w^as quite ex- 
cited, and came up to Gen. Jackson's quarters, where 
he saw the flag flying, and a sergeant with liis musket 



76 JOHN MULL AN PHY. 

pacing up and down before the door. He accosted 
the sergeant, and said he wanted to see Gen. 
Jackson. The soldier directed him to walk in. 
Mr. Mullanphy went up just in front of the old hero, 
who was writing at the table, and said, " Gen. Jack- 
son, your quartermaster has taken all my cotton," 
mentioning the number of bales. The old general 
stopped writing, lifted his spectacles fi*om his eyes 
to the top of his head, as his manner was, and look- 
ing right at Mr. Mullanphy, asked, " Is this cotton 
yours? " " Yes," said Mullanphy. '^ Then, by the 
Eternal, there is no one more interested in defend- 
ing it," said the general. " Sergeant," said he, 
calling out to the soldier in front of his door, ' ' brings 
a musket, put it into this man's hands, march him 
into the ranks, and make him fight for his cotton." 
The cotton-buyer was marched off, put into the 
ranks, and fought for his cotton. In a Life of 
Gen. Jackson published in 1828, in Boston, this 
passage occurs: ''An additional number of bales 
of cotton were taken to defend the embrasures. 
A Frenchman whose pi^operty had been thus seized, 
fearful of the injury it might sustain, proceeded 
in person to Gen. Jackson to reclaim it, and to 
demand its delivery. The general, having heai'd 
his complaint and ascertained from him that he was 



COMPELLED TO FIGHT FOR HIS PROPERTY. 77 

unemployed in any military service, directed a musket 
to be brought to him, and placing it in his hands, 
ordered him on the line ; remarking at the same time 
that, as he seemed to be a man possessed of prop- 
erty, he knew of none who had a better right to fight 
to defend it." This occurred with Mr. Mullanphy, 
and the biographer of Gen. Jackson made a mistake 
in calling him a Frenchman. 

When Mr. Mullanphy, many years after, went 
to Washington City as a witness in the trial of Judge 
Peck, Gen. Jackson, who was then president of the 
United States, treated him with great distinction and 
consideration. 

After the battle was ovei*, Mr. Mullanphy said 
he could hear people on all sides saying they 
would look to the government for pay for their 
cotton ; and he knew it would take a long time 
to get money out of the government. Great delay, 
much expense, and an act of Congress would have 
been required. He went to Gen. Jackson, and said 
if he would order the same number of sound bales, 
not torn by cannon-balls or damaged in any way, 
returned to him as had been taken from him, he 
would give a release for all claims upon the govern- 
ment. " Gen. Jackson directed his quartermaster 
to do this, and Mullanphy received the same number 



78 JOHN MULLANPHY. 

of sound bales as had been taken from him. All the 
balance of the cotton used m the breastworks was 
put up at auction and sold for a mere trifle. 

]^o cotton could be sold for more than three or four 
cents a pound. After the battle, Mr. Mullanphy 
seemed to have a premonition that peace would be 
made soon. The mails were carried to 'New Orleans 
at that time all the way by land, on horseback, via 
ISTatchez. 'No steamboats were running there at that 
date, and no mail-coaches ran in that flat, swampy 
country. Mr. Mullanphy hired a couple of men to 
take a skiff and row him up the Mississippi River to 
!N^atchez. They ate and slept in the skiff. No one 
knew the object of his visit; the men with him knew 
nothing of his purpose, and were left in charge of 
the skiff on their arrival at ]^atchez, with injunctions 
to stay in the boat all the time, as he did not know 
what minute he might want to return. He went up 
into the town of ^NTatchez, and sauntered around, 
when late in the evening the post-rider came riding 
at full speed, shouting " Peace, peace ! " having, it 
was said, got a fresh horse every ten miles to hasten 
the glad tidings and prevent the further destruction 
of life. Mr. Mullanphy ran down to the river, 
jumped into his skiff, and ordered his men to row 
with all their might for ^ew Orleans, as he had im- 



THE KEEN FORESIGHT THAT MADE HIS FORTUNE. 79 

portant business there to attend to. The men knew 
not what had occurred, and rowed all night and all 
next day with the swift currents of the Mississippi, 
reaching New Orleans in good time. Mr. Mullan- 
phy was the only man in the city who had the news of 
peace. He was self -composed, — showed no excite- 
ment. He began purchasing all the cotton he could 
buy, or could bargain for. He had about two days 
the start of the others. Late in the evening of the 
second day, from the large amount of cotton pur- 
chased by him, people began to talk, and suspect that 
he had some secret information. The third day, in the 
morning, the whole town was rejoicing ; the new^s of 
peace had come, and cannon were announcing it. 
But Mr. Mullanphy had the cotton. Mr. Mullanphy 
chartered a vessel and took the cotton, which he had 
purchased at three or four cents a pound, to England, 
where he sold it, as was reported, at thirty cents per 
pound. And a part of the specie and bullion brought 
back by him as the returns from his cotton was sold 
by him to the government of the United States, on 
which to base the capital for the Bank of the United 
States. 

Mr. Mullanphy had twelve children, all of whom 
were finely educated, mostly in Europe. Ellen, his 



80 JOHN MULLANPHY. 

eldest daughter, died at the age of thirty, in a con- 
vent in Paris. All the rest of the children are dead 
except three daughters, who still survive, namely, 
Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Chamhers, and Mrs. Boyce. 
His daughter Jane mai-ried Charles Chambers, 
Esq. ; Catherine married Maj. Richard Graham, of 
the United States Ai-my ; Ann married Maj . Thomas 
Biddle, of the United States Army, who was killed 
in a duel with Spencer Pettis ; Mary married Gen. 
Harney, of the United States Army ; Eliza married 
James Clemens, Jr., Esq. ; and Octavia married 
Dr. Delaney, and after his death. Judge Boyce, of 
Louisiana. The son, after whom the Fund Associa- 
tion is named, was Judge Bryan Mullanphy, who left 
one-third of his estate for the relief of immigrants to 
the West. Mr. John Mullanphy, at the time of his 
death, was said to be the wealthiest man in the Val- 
ley of the Mississippi, his estate being reckoned by 
millions. He was a most worthy and good man. 
In charitable deeds he never had a superior in the 
city of St. Louis, and his works will live after him 
as long as the Mississippi Piver laves the shores of 
the city where the institutions founded by him in the 
cause of humanity and religion shall stand ; and so 
long as the seats of learning and structures dedicated 



CAPT. JOSEPH CONWAY. 81 

to religion shall have votaries who worship at the 
shrine of Him who came to ' ' save that which was 
lost," will the evidence of his noble charity be main- 
tained and benefit mankind. 



Capt. Joseph Conway was one of the pioneers of 
the West. He came to Louisiana during* Spanish 
times, and settled in Bonhomme, St. Louis District, 
in the year 1798, on the piece of land granted 
to him that same year by Zenon Trudeau, at that 
time lieutenant-governor of Upper Louisiana. He 
improved his farm, and cultivated and lived on it for 
more than thirty years, and up to the time of his 
death, which occurred on the twenty-seventh day of 
December, 1830. He was born in Virginia, the -four- 
teenth day of December, 1763. He raised a large 
family, several of his sons having been honored 
with positions of public trust, such as jndge of 
the County Court, sheriff of St. Louis County, 
and member of the Legislature, discharging the 
duties of the various offices they filled with honor 
and credit to themselves and to the entire satisfaction 
of the public. 

Capt. Conway came to Rentucky in early youth, 

6 



82 CAPT. JOSEPH CONWAY. 

and as soon as he was able to bear arms he took an 
active and distinguished part in the Indian wars 
which accompanied the early settlement of that 
State. Young, brave, and daring, he was associated 
with Daniel Boone and many of the bold spirits of 
that time in almost all theii* hazardous and dangerous 
enterprises. Boone came to this country and got his 
ofrant of land from Zenon Trudeau on the Fenime 
Osage, in St. Charles, about the same time that 
Capt. Conway obtained his grant from the same 
Spanish governor of Upper Louisiana. 

He fought under Gen. Harmer, and was in the 
battle which marked his defeat. Once, when the 
Indians were in hot pursuit, he dodged behind a tree 
and turned and fii*ed, and again loaded his gun as he 
ran, and in tliis manner killed seven Indians. He 
also fought under Gen. Wayne, and shared in his 
victories. The horrors of the border war he had 
witnessed in common with his associates, but his suf- 
erings far exceeded those of most of his comrades. 

In different battles he was shot three different 
times. He was tomahawked by the savages, and 
scalped three times. 

At one time he was left for dead upon the battle- 
field by the enemy, but he revived and recovered, 
and was taken prisoner, and made to march bare- 



HIS SUFFERINGS AT THE HANDS OF THE INDIANS. 83 

footed, his feet bleeding- at almost every step, with 
the Indians, from the Ohio River to Detroit. The 
blood flowed down his back from the raw and un- 
healed wounds in the head, from which the scalp had 
been taken. Still he was made to trudge on amidst 
pain and suffering' by his barbarous captors ; a white 
woman, who was also a captive, with the character- 
istic sympathy and kindness which belongs to her 
sex, gave to Capt. Conway a handkerchief, which 
she tied with womanly tenderness around his bleed- 
ing head to protect the gaping wounds from the 
weather. It was a most humane act, and relieved 
his sufferings greatly during that long, tii'esome, and 
tedious march. 

The incredible sufferings, ])rivations, hardships^ 
and exposures which Capt. Conway was made to en- 
dure during his captivity are beyond precedent, and 
can hardly be described, and but for his vigorous 
constitution he must have sunk under them. On 
the bleak shores of the Canadian frontier he was de- 
tained four years as a prisoner, with no human habi- 
tation to protect him from the severity of the 
weather, and made to endure and to bear all the pri- 
vations incident to that barbarous condition of life. 

After Capt. Conway took up his residence in 
Louisiana, he rendered great service to the Territory 



84 JOHN SMITH T. 

and to the government, in going forth to meet and 
repel the Indians in their attacks npon the thin and 
nnprotected settlements of the whites. 

Often when I was a boy, when he would come into 
the honse, would I in my boyish curiosity creep 
around his chair to get a good look at the back of 
his head, to see where the Indians had taken off the 
scalps from his head. Capt. Conway was, in fact, 
one of the bravest and noblest men that ever lived in 
the State of Missouri, and of the strictest integrity. 
He left a name and a fame that commanded the 
respect and affectionate regard of all who knew him 
during life. 



In the early settlement, first of Upper Louisiana, 
the TeiM'itory of Missouri, and afterwards the State 
of Missouri, John Smith T was one of the most 
noted and conspicuous characters. 

John Smith T was born in Georgia, and when a 
young man removed to Tennessee, and settled in the 
neighborhood of Nashville. There were so many 
John Smiths that he determined to add the capital 
letter T at the end of his name, not only to dis- 
tinguish him from the other John Smiths in the 
country, but also to indicate that he was ''John 



LOCATES AT STE. GENEVIEVE. 85 

Smith of Tennessee," for which the letter T stood. 
John Smith T became distinguished for his great 
expertness in tiie use of fire-arms, the duels he had 
fought, and the number of men he had killed. It 
was said he had killed fifteen men, mostly in duels, 
where his own life was in danger. 

It is not our purpose to give an account of the 
different individuals slain by Col. Jack Smith T, as 
he was commonly called, because such a detail would 
fill a whole volume, but merely a few incidents, anec- 
dotes, and notices illustrating the conduct and char- 
acter of this extraordinary man. 

Col. Smith, after moving from Tennessee, settled 
in Kentucky, on the Ohio River, near the mouth of 
the Cumberland, and from him the place took it& 
name, '' Smithland," and is so known to this day. 
Col. Smith left Smithland and came to Upper Louis- 
iana, and settled in what was then known as Ste. 
Genevieve County, about the time the country was 
transferred to the United States. He built houses, 
and improved a farm, and carried on mining opera- 
tions at a place called Shibboleth, where he lived for 
a number of years. He was a man of wealth. He 
owned a claim to land in x4.1abama, called " the Yazoo 
claim," for which it was said the government of the 
United States offered him one hundred thousand 



86 JOHN SMETH T. 

dollars cash. This he afterwards lost in a lawsuit 
which was decided against him. 

Col. Smith, when he settled in Ste. Genevieve 
County, was appointed a judge in the Ste. Genevieve 
Court of Common Pleas, a tribunal analogous to our 
present County Court system under the State gov- 
ernment. Col. Smith created himself a self -consti- 
tuted delegate, without any election or authority of 
law, to look after the interest of the Territory and to 
lay before the authorities at Washington the griev- 
ances of the inhabitants. This he did at his own 
expense. 

It is proper to remark that Col. Jack Smith T 
always went armed. He had two pistols under his 
coat in a belt around his body, generally two pocket- 
pistols in his side coat-pocket, and a dirk in his 
bosom. He had a negro man, a slave, named Dave, 
who was an excellent gunsmith and a fine mechanic. 
He had a gunsmith-shop near the house, built ex- 
pressly for Dave to work in and keep his rifles, guns, 
and pistols in order. Dave had no other work 
whatever to do. 

About the time of Aaron Burr''s expedition down 
the Mississippi, a man named Otho Schrader came to 
Ste. Genevieve. He was an Austrian by birth, and 
said he had been aid-de-camp to the Archduke 



ATTEMPTS TO JOIN BURR'S MEXICAN EXPEDITION. 87 

Charles in the first battle with Napoleon. He used 
to relate many anecdotes of the Archduke Charles ; 
among others, how when he found the battle going 
against him he tore open his shirt-collar on the battle- 
field, and became greatly excited, — that same battle 
where Maria Louise, a princess about six years old, had 
to be sent away to keep her from falling into the hands 
of IN^apoleon ; Maria Louise, who a few years after- 
wards, when she grew to be a woman, fell into the 
arms and fond embrace of I^apoleon. Otho Schra- 
der, directly after coming to Ste. Genevieve, was 
taken up by the good people of that district, as then 
called, and made coroner ; thinking, perhaps, as he 
had buried so many dead bodies on the battle-field 
with ISTapoleon, he was well adapted to perform the 
duties of such an office. 

Col. Jack Smith T was then judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas for Ste. Genevieve, and Henry 
Dodge, afterwards senator from Wisconsin, was 
sheriff of the district of Ste. Genevieve. Smith 
and Dodge were then good friends, although they 
became enemies afterwards. Having heard that 
Burr was going down the Mississippi to go over and 
whip Mexico, then a Spanish province, these gentle- 
men said if there was any fighting they must take a 
hand in it. Cols-. Smith and Dodge started immedi- 



88 JOHN SMITH T. 

ately, in some canoes, from Ste. Genevieve dovy^n the 
Mississippi River to join Bnrr. 

When they reached 'New Madrid, there they f onnd 
President Jefferson's proclamation denonncing Bnrr 
and his vs^hole enterprise as nnlawfnl. Cols. Smith 
and Dodge were mortified ; sold their canoes, bonght 
horses, and came back home to Ste. Genevieve. 
Smith lived on his farm in the conntry ; Dodge lived 
in the town of Ste. Genevieve. When Dodge got to 
town he fonnd great excitement ; the grand jnry 
were in session, and had actually indicted Dodge and 
Smith for treason. Dodge surrendered himself and 
gave bail for his appearance. After doing tliis, 
Dodge, who considered himself greatly outraged by 
the action of the grand jury, pulled off his coat, 
rolled up his sleeves, and whipped nine of the grand 
jurors. Henry Dodge was a tall man, over six feet 
high, as straight as an Indian, and possessed of great 
strength. He would have whipped every member of 
the grand jury if the rest had not run away. 

In the meantime Col. Jack Smith T heard what 
had been done. One day, about dinner-time, he 
ordered one of his negro men to bring out his horse, 
put his saddle and holstei-s on, and hitch it at the 
gate ready for him to ride after dinner. He looked 
out at the front door and saw Otho Schrader, the 



DECLINES TO BE AKRESTED FOR TREASON. 89 

coroner, riding up. Col. Smith went to the door 
and called out to Schrader, " I loiow what you have 
come for : you have come with a writ to arrest me. 
If you attempt it you are a dead man ; I will not be 
arrested." After some further conversation he said, 
''It was a great outrage to indict me for treason. 
I'm as good a friend to the United States as any 
man in the Territory." He said further, ''Mr. 
Schrader, dinner is just ready, — get down and come 
in and take dinner ; but mark, if you attempt to 
move a finger, or make a motion to arrest me, you 
are a dead man." Schrader got off his horse, came 
into the house, and Col. Smith pointed to a chair at 
the table, which Schrader took. Col. Smith took a 
seat at the opposite side of the table, and in doing 
so he pulled out one of his pistols from his belt, 
cocked it, and laid it down by his plate, the muzzle 
across the table toward Schrader ; Col. Smith all the 
while ordering the servants to wait upon the gentle- 
man, inquiring if he would not "take something 
more," how he " liked his soup," etc. 

Dinner being over, the two gentlemen got on 
their horses and rode into town side by side, con- 
versing all the way. A great crowd was in the 
street ; but Smith was not a prisoner, and never was 
arrested on that indictment. 



90 JOHN SMITH T. 

Otho Schi-ader was afterwards appointed by Presi- 
dent Jefferson, with John B. C. Lucas and Return 
Josiah Meigs, Jr., to make laws within and for the 
Territory of Upper Louisiana, and to administer the 
same. 

Lionel Browne, a nephew of Aaron Burr, lived 
at Potosi, in Washington County, Missouri. For 
some alleged remarks Smith had made about his 
sister, he sent Smith a challenge. Augustus Jones, 
then of Potosi, still living in Texas at a great old 
age, was his second. Col. Smith accepted the chal- 
lenofe, and chose Col. McClanahan as his second. 
The parties went immediately to Herculaneum, on 
the Mississippi River, and crossed over into Monroe 
County, Ilhnois. The pistols were loaded, the 
ground measured off, and the principals placed. 
The pistols, being cocked, were then handed to them. 
The rules and agreement of the high contracting 
parties, upon which the lives of two human beings 
in full health and in the full enjoyment of all their 
mental faculties depended, had been reduced to 
writing. It was provided that after the pistols had 
been cocked and put into the hands of the belliger- 
ents, the second who had won the giving of the word 
(generally done by tossing up a piece of coin) should 
put the question, " Gentlemen, are you ready? " If 



KILLS LIONEL BROWNE IN A DUEL. 91 

the parties answer ''Yes," or ''Ready," then the 
second proceeds to count "one," "two," "three." 
Neither party is permitted to fire before the word 
"one," nor after the word "three." In this case. 
Col. Smith, with the rapidity of lightning, as soon 
as the word "one" was pronounced, put a ball right 
into the centre of Lionel Browne's forehead, and he 
fell dead before the word "three" was uttered. 
Smith was not touched. Some one raised a false 
alarm that the civil authorities in Ilhnois were after 
them ; and McClanahan, forgetting to uncock his 
pistol, put it into his pantaloons pocket cocked, and 
ran down the bank of the river. In rowmg the 
skiff across the Mississippi, the pistol went off and 
wounded him in the leg so that he was laid up for 
six months. 

In the year 1829 Col. Smith went to ^N'ashville 
and challenged Gen. Sam. Houston to fight a duel. 
Gen. Houston refused to accept the challenge, and 
published a sort of an aplogetic card in the papers ; 
saying, amongst other things, that he had no dispo- 
sition "to quote a quarrel with Col. Smith of Mis- 
souri." They did not fight, for Gen. Houston 
backed squarely out. 

In the month of June, 1827, I went for the first 
time to Potosi, Washington County, Missouri, to 
attend court, where I spent a week during the term. 



92 JOHN SMITH T. 

Col. Benton and Arthur L. Maginnis stopped at the 
same hotel with myself ; and Col. Smith, who lived 
in the country, not far from town, and whom I then 
and there saw for the first time, dined at the hotel 
with us every day for a week. He was the friend 
and acquaintance of Col. Benton and Maginnis. 
A man of more polished manners and more cour- 
teous demeanor I never met. He was a gentleman 
in every respect. 

The last man that Col. John Smith T killed was 
a man named Ball, of Ste. Genevieve. Smith was 
arrested and put in jail. John Scott and Beverly 
Allen defended him, and got a verdict of acquittal 
for him, on an indictment for murder. They suc- 
ceeded in getting liim out on bail before the trial 
came off. While on bail, he came to St. Louis ; the 
news of his previous history and the story of the 
present killing was in the mouth of everybody. In 
stepping into the Missouri Hotel one morning, in 
going to breakfast, 1 saw Col. Jack Smith T leaning 
on his elbow on the counter at the office. I went up 
to him, spoke to him, shook hands with him. There 
were quite a number of gentlemen in the office, and 
the eyes of every person in the room were upon him ; 
such was his appearance as to attract the attention 
of all to whom he was a stranger. 

In stature he was rather under the middle size : 



VISITS ST. LOUIS. 93 

his head was perfectly white. He wore a leather 
buckskin hmiting-shirt, and a pair of shoes with the 
tan on them. He seemed, as it were, from his ven- 
erable appearance, to have a sort of Daniel Boone 
aspect about him which attracted the gaze of every 
one. 

When I left the room, several came after me to 
inquire who that man was ; and when I told them it 
was John Smith T, they all seemed to shy off and 
avoid him. ^NTo one would sit around the lire with 
him ; every person seemed to have a dread and 
fear of him. 

As he walked along the street, all the young men 
and clerks in the stores would run out and point at 
him with dread and fear, and dodge into the stores 
again. Col. Smith had engaged me to draw some 
deeds for him. I told him to call at my office, then 
on Main Street, and I would have them ready by 
three o'clock. He came at the appointed hour, but 
I had not returned from court. He rapped at my 
door, — many persons on the opposite side of the 
street peeping at him and watching him. And when 
I came to my office, a half-dozen of these parties 
came running to me to tell me, and warn me to look 
out, that old Smith was looking for me. As if he 
could have no business with any one except to shoot 
him. 



94 JOHN SMITH T. 

One Sunday, at the City Hotel, St. Louis, he was 
sitting at the table drinking wine, in company with 
" Dare-devil Bill Gordon," a congenial spirit. Gen. 
Street, an old militiaman from up the country, asked 
some one to introduce him to Col. Smith. This was 
done, when the old militia gentleman said he was ac- 
quainted with his " brother. Gen. Smith," etc. At 
that Col. Smith, with a great oath, said, " Gen. 
Smith was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, 
and did not have to work for his money like I did." 
Saying which, he pulled a pistol from his belt and 
laid it down by his plate. The old militia general 
made a hasty retreat from the dining-room, and 
never again wanted to come near Col. John Smith 
T. 

It is deemed unnecessary to give further details 
of the eventful career of this extraordinary man ; 
his trip to N^ew Mexico and his mining operations 
would fill a volume of most thrilling events. His 
brother, Reul)en Smith, had been captured by the 
Spaniards, and made to work with other Ameri- 
cans in the mines, like convicts, at Chihuahua. 
Col. Smith started, " solitary and alone," to that 
then far-off country, to try and rescue his brother. 
With a courage, self-reliance, and determination 
possessed by few men, he encountered perils, dan- 
gers, and difficulties at almost every step, all of 



HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER. 95 

which he met without flinching, and with a bravery 
and daring unsurpassed, and encountering savages 
and wild animals nearly the whole way. 

Col. Smith had a most amiable wife, mild and 
gentle as possible for woman to be, and he was most 
devotedly attached to her. Through all his troubles 
and trials she clung to him with the true love of 
woman, — stronger than David's love for Jonathan. 
Col. Smith had only one child, a daughter, who first 
married John Dedrick, by whom she had two chil- 
dren, a son and a daughter. She afterwards married 
James M. White, a gentleman of high character and 
of the greatest respectability, universally esteemed 
by his neighbors. By this marriage with James M. 
White she had and raised a large family of children. 
She was gentle and amiable in her manners, respected 
and beloved by everybody who knew her. She had 
belonged to the Presbyterian Church, in which she 
had been bred, and from which she voluntarily with- 
drew and attached herself to the Roman Catholic 
Church from conscientious convictions alone. In 
that faith she afterwards lived and died, having been 
a most devout member of the church, a regular 
attendant on the matin service, and chanting before 
the same altar her evening prayers. Col. John Smith 
T loved his daughter with as deep affection and 



96 JOHN SMITH T. 

warm attachment as any man that ever hved. She 
was his only child, and she could truly say, — 

' 'All his wealth was counted mine ; 
He had but only me." 

He was a man of wealth, as well as a man of 
great enterprise. We knew Mrs. White well, and 
have acted as counsel for her in some matters in 
court. 

It was said that Col. Smith was much attached to 
Mr. Dedrick, his first son-in-law, but disliked Mr. 
White. It was also reported — and as hearsay only 
we repeat it — that sometimes, when in his cups, the 
colonel would pull out his pistol from his belt and 
point it at Capt. White, who was a large, stout man, 
and make him dance till he could hardly stand up. 

His home was at Shii)boleth, in Washington 
County. He also opened a large farm in Saline 
County, Missouri. He went to Tennessee, in the 
neighborhood of Memphis, to open a cotton planta- 
tion, in the year 1835, where he died a natural death, 
none but his negroes being present. His remains 
were bi'ought up on a steamboat to Selma, Jefferson 
County, Missouri, where his son-in-law, James M. 
White, lived, and were buried in March, 1835. 

We could add many other interesting incidents 
and anecdotes concerning John Smith T, — his quar- 



FELIX GRUNDY. 97 

rels and lawsuits with Gen. Jackson, his quarrels 
with Gen. Dodge and other incUviduals, — but it 
would make this essay too long. John Smith T 
killed the most of the men he shot in fair and open 
duels, where his own life wa^ at stake ; in what, in 
his day and time, was considered honorable, open, 
manly warfai*e. And when he killed any man in 
any sudden quarrel or broil, he always stood his trial, 
and was always honorably acquitted by a jmy of his 
country. He was as polished and coiu-teous a gen- 
tleman as ever lived in the State of Missouri, and as 
" mild a mannered man as ever put a bullet into the 
human body." 



Judge Felix Grundy was a native of Virginia, 
born among the mountains of Berkley County on 
the 11th of September, 1775. In 1780, his father 
moved his family to Kentucky, where his son was 
educated under the tuition of Dr. James Priestley. 
He pursued his legal studies under the dh-ection of 
George Nicholas, then the most celebrated coun- 
sellor in the West ; was admitted to the Kentucky 
bar about 1797 ; a delegate from Washington County 
to the State Convention for revishig the Constitu- 
tion of Kentucky in 1799 ; soon aftei* selected a 

7 



98 FELIX GRUNDY. 

f 

member of the General Assembly of that State, and 
so continued l)y successive re-elections, some of them 
unanimous, until ]^ovember, 180G, at which time he 
was appointed judge of the Court of Appeals, and 
subsequently chief justice of the State. 

In the year 1808, Judge Grundy resigned his 
office as chief justice of the State of Kentucky and 
removed to Tennessee, intending to devote himself 
exclusively to his profession ; he came to Nashville, 
where he ever afterwards resided. His practice soon 
became lucrative and extensive ; but as the national 
controversy began to assume a warlike character, his 
patriotic feelings became enlisted, and in 1811 he 
was elected to Congress from his district with great 
unanimity. We will not attempt in this place to do 
justice to liis bold and noble course on the war ques- 
tion. It is fresh in the memory of the aged, and 
is a tale of patriotism which every Tennessee mother 
loves to tell to her children. On a future occasion, 
perhaps, the pen of some other shall recur to its 
instructive and interesting particulars. 

Mr. Grundy left Congress in the year 1814, and 
for fifteen years his extensive practice at law and 
the nurture and education of his children formed his 
principal and favorite employment, with the excep- 
tion of temporary official trusts, and occasional 



HIS OFFICIAL LIFE. 99 

service as a member of the Legislature of Tennessee. 
In 1829, he was elected to the United States Senate 
by the Legislatm-e, to fill out the unexpired term of 
his predecessoi- ; was re-elected for six years in 
1833, and continued a member of that body until 
1837, when he was invited by President Van Buren 
to a seat in the Cabinet as attorney-general of the 
United States. In the fall of 1839, Tennessee again 
summoned him into her service, when he cheerfully 
laid down the emoluments and honors of a Cabinet 
officer to enter again into the more ai'duous and less 
lucrative duties of United States senator. The peo- 
ple of his own State called upon him, and he could 
not be, as he never had been, deaf to their calls and 
their interests. 

Judge Grrundy was one of the pioneers of the 
West; and if he did not take an active part by 
wielding the weapons of warfare upon the frontier, 
he did much in maturer years to open to the world 
the vast natural resources of the Valley of the Mis- 
sissippi. '' I was too young," said he, in an eloquent 
speech delivered in the Senate a few years ago, when 
some observations reminded him of the incidents of 
his early life, — ''I was too young to participate in 
these dangers and difficulties, but I can remember 
when death was in almost every bush, and every 



100 FELIX GRUNDY. 

thicket contained an ambuscade. If I am asked to 
trace my memory back and name the first indelible 
impression it received, it would be the sight of my 
eldest brother bleeding and dying under the wounds 
inflicted by the tomahawk and scalping-knife. 
Another and another went in the same way ! I 
have seen a widowed mother plundered of her whole 
property in a single night ; from aflluence and ease 
reduced to poverty in a moment, and compelled to 
labor with her own hands to support and educate her 
last and favorite son, — Imn who now addresses you! 
Sir, [continued Mr. G., addressing the vice-president, 
and looking round upon his associates in the Senate 
with a good deal of emotion] the ancient sufferings 
of the West were great. I know it. I need turn 
to no document to teach me what they were. They 
are written upon my memory, — a part of them upon 
my heart. Those of us who are here are but the 
remnant, the wreck of large families lost in effect- 
ing the early settlement of the West. As I look 
around, I see the monuments of former suffer- 
ing and woe. Ask my colleague [Gen. Desha] 
what he rememl^ers. He will tell you that while 
his father was in pursuit of one party of Indians, 
another band came and murdered two of his brothers. 
Inquire of yonder gentleman from Arkansas [Gov. 



STYLE OF HIS ORATORY. 101 

Pope] what became of his brother-in-law, Oldham. 
He will tell you that he went ont to battle, — but 
never returned. Ask that representative from Ken- 
tucky [Mr. Wield if fe] where is his uncle, the gallant 
Hardin. He will answer that he was intrepid enough 
to carry a flag of truce to the hostile savages ; they 
would not recognize the protection which the flag of 
peace threw around him, and he was slain. If I 
turn to my old classmate and friend [Mr. Rowan] , 
now a grave and potent senator, I am reminded of a 
mother's courage and intrepidity, in the son whom 
she rescued from savage hands when in the very 
grasp of death." 

Judge Grundy was one of the most eloquent 
men of the time. His manner as a debater was 
courteous ; always bearing himself toward his oppo- 
nents with respect rather to his own honor than theii* 
deserts. His style was elegant, combining a gener- 
ous flow of sentiment with a nervous and powerful, 
yet calm and dignified, expression. Truly has it 
been remarked by a writer in the United States Mag- 
azine^ that his countenance, '^ though marked by a 
mild and bland expression, was full of intelligence. 
His conversation was characterized by easy humor, 
and his manners were simple and unaffected. 
Though not of a disposition to permit difference in 



102 FELIX GRUNDY. 

political sentiments to affect his private intercourse, 
he was yet remarkable for his own consistency and 
firmness in adhering to those principles which he 
adopted in the outset of public Hfe. Commencing 
as a Republican of the old school, he so continued 
without deviation ; and no circumstance, however 
trying, ever induced him to waver in his early faith. 
As a senator, he always felt that pride of place jus- 
tifiable in one who had so entirely achieved a promi- 
nent position by his own exertions ; and although in 
wit and sarcasm he had no superior, yet he has never 
been known to indulge in remarks unsuited to the 
high theatre in which he acted so conspicuous a part. 
Never did he degrade the elevated body of which he 
was a member, by language that could not fail to 
lower it in public estimation." 

He eloquently aiid conclusively vindicated, on 
more than one occasion, the majority of which he 
was a part, from the imputation of a disregard of its 
independence and honor ; and he defended the Senate 
itself from the charge that it could be ever lost to 
the manly assertion of its own rights. It was dur- 
ing one of these debates that he concluded a very 
able speech, of which unfortunately there is no re- 
port, by the following language, illustrative of these 
opinions: ''If," said he, ''the time shall come 



HIS LEGAL ATTAINMENTS. 103 

when the Goddess of Libei'ty can find no resting- 
place in the executive mansion ; when the spirit of 
faction shall expel her from the other end of the 
Capitol, yet she will linger about this chamber, un- 
willing to be gone; and if at last she shall, be com- 
pelled to take her final flight, the parting impress of 
her feet Avill be found upon that dome which over- 
shadows the American Senate." 

As a jurist, few if any American citizens have 
enjoyed a more en\dable reputation. " The widow's 
son," at Bardstown, in Kentucky, who more than 
three-quarters of a century ago, was closely plying 
his youthful ^energies to the law-books of Mr. ^N^icho- 
las, came forth, step by step, up the steep of judicial 
fame, until by his own indefatigable efforts, and, as 
it wei'e, with his own hand, he wrote his name at the 
top of ''the scroll of legal distinction," and took 
his seat as attorney-general of the United States. 
Before he left Kentucky, and when not yet thirty-five 
years of age, he stood at the head of the bar of that 
Commonwealth. As a master in his profession , he has 
given to the bar of Tennessee many young men who, 
under the influence of his instruction, have advanced 
to posts of honor and trust, not only in the science of 
legal jurisprudence, but in the life political. It is a 
matter of becoming State pride that among his stu- 



104 FELIX GRUNDY. 

dents, who stand forth as brilliant ornaments of the 
bar and the State, may be named in his day the Re- 
publican governor of Tennessee, between whom and 
his venerable law-tutor there had always existed har- 
mony of sentiment and feeling, the most intimate 
private and public relations. 

' ' It is not upon the public career of Judge 
Grrundy — brilliant, bold, consistent, ai. exenij^lary 
though it has been — that we most love to dwell. 
To know him was to enjoy the circle at his own fire- 
side. To enjoy the hospitalities of his home was to 
admire the intelligence of his eye, the fine feelings 
of his heart, the chastity of his mind, and the high- 
toned benevolence of his character. With a private 
character devoid of spot or blemish, he was generally 
beloved. His neighbors who knew him most inti- 
mately bear his eulogy upon their hearts, impressed 
with the unwritten characters of gratitude more en- 
during than any language that we can choose. If 
he was not born to the heritage of wealth, he was 
born to an inheritance which wealth can never pur- 
chase, nor any of the untoward incidents of life 
impair. He was born to the careful watchfulness, 
the sleepless vigils, and unerring guidance of a pious 
and devoted mother, who, like the bearer of Wash- 
ington, was one of the renowned class of Virginia 



PURITY OF HIS PRIVATE LIFE. 105 

matrons, and nnder whose constant and anxious care 
and solicitude his youthful mind was deeply and in- 
delibly imbued with the cardinal virtues of sound 
morality and the Christian religion. In every act of 
his well-spent life, whether of a public or private 
nature, were to be seen the benign influences of those 
early impressions received in the maternal school of 
uniform piety, unwavering honesty of purpose, and 
inflexible integrity. To the day of his demise he was 
a pillar of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was 
a member ; and while tortured with the most agoniz- 
ing pains preceding his dissolution, yet retaining his 
mental faculties, he took a last and affectionate fare- 
well of his family and friends in the spirit of calm 
resignation to the will of Omnipotence." 

Mr. Grundy died at four o'clock p. m. on Satur- 
day, December 19, 1840. 

Felix Grundy, in his day and time, was beyond 
doubt a man of the finest legal abilities in the United 
States. He had filled many positions of honor and 
distinction, and amongst others that of member of 
the Convention that formed the Constitution of 
Kentucky, very often a member of the Legislature 
of that State and of Tennessee, chief justice of 
Kentucky, member of both House of Congress, 
and attorney-general of the United States imder 



106 FELIX GRUNDY. 

the administration of President Van Buren ; all of 
which positions he filled with marked ability. 

On the sixteenth day of March, 1825, Palemon H. 
Winchester, a yonng lawyer of talents, fine ability, 
and of great promise, who had been indicted for the 
mnrder of Daniel H. Smith, at Edwardsville, Illinois, 
was tried for mnrder. The trial was one that created 
intense excitement, and pervaded the pnblic mind 
with the deepest interest. Smith, the man who was 
killed, generally went by the name of Rarified Smith, 
and was a man of much humor and wit, and a great 
caricaturist. It was because of drawings made by 
Rarified Smith that the quarrel between him and 
Winchester originated. 

Felix Grundy and Henry Starr appeared as 
counsel for defendant, and Alfred Coles and Benja- 
min Mills, men of fine talents and education, con- 
ducted the prosecution. The Hon. Samuel McRob- 
erts presided as judge. A large crowd of people 
attended the trial of the case from the beginning to 
the close. 

The master-mind of Grundy was manifested at 
every movement throughout the trial. In selecting 
the jury, in every instance the first question pro- 
pounded by Grundy to the juror who had been sworn 
to answer questions was, what State he was from, — 



A CELEBRATED CRIMINAL TRIAL. 107 

where he had heeii born and raised ; and if the 
juror answered that he was from Vermont, Massa- 
chusetts, or from any other State than Tennessee, 
the counsel would tell him to stand aside, and reject 
him. One juror who had been sworn to answer 
questions, in reply to the usual inquiry as to whether 
he had formed and expressed an opinion in regard to 
the case, said that he had. Grundy asked the juror 
where he was from, and he answered, " from Tenny- 
see." ••' We'll take him," said the able lawyer, and 
he immediately took his seat as a juror to try the 
cause. 

In this manner the counsel for the defence suc- 
ceeded in getting a jvuy of original Tennesseeans. 
Another part of the management on the part of the 
defence was to get Winchester's wife and childi'en 
and all their relations to come into court and arrange 
themselves in a row along the side of the defendant. 
At the head of this formidable phalanx of criers was 
seated Gov. ^inian Edwards, whose fine and com- 
manding personal appearance, with his elegant, strik- 
ing, intellectual face and venerable gray head, gave 
effect to the picture ; which was also heightened by 
the elegance of dress and neatness of apparel in 
which his excellency was habited. Mr. Grundy 
having thus completed his arrangements, and made 



108 FELIX GRUNDY. 

the proper disposition of his forces for defence, so 
to speak, the trial began. After three days' trial 
the defendant was triumphantly acquitted, amidst 
plaudits and shouts. 

Mr. Ben Mills, for the people, opened the case 
for the prosecution. In doing so he alluded, amongst 
other things, to the fact that Mr. Grundy, one of 
the most eminent lawyers in the United States, had 
been retained as counsel for the defendant, and had 
ridden all the way from I^ashville, Tennessee, to Ed- 
wardsville on horseback, in the middle of March, a 
distance of four or five hundred miles, at the breaking 
up of winter, when the frost was all out of the 
ground ; his horse sinldng to his knees in the mud 
almost at every step the whole way. This, of itself, 
should be taken as some evidence of the desperate- 
ness of the defendant's case; that a man of Mr. 
Grundy's great abilities and character, and at his age 
(he was then fifty-five years old), could not be ex- 
pected or induced to encounter these hardships and 
personal sufferings without being paid a very heavy 
compensation by way of a fee, etc. 

When Mr. Grundy came to reply to this part of 
the speech of the prosecution, he said, amongst 
other things, that this statement of the prosecutuig 
attorney was but another illustration of the ' ' cold- 



HIS SKILL AND TACT AS AN ADVOCATE. 109 

blooded Yankees and Yankee character;" that 
they looked upon ' ' money ' ' as the moving power 
and '' consideration for human actions " with all men, 
as it was with themselves; that the '*" cold-blooded, 
unfeeling, hard-hearted Yankees " could conceive of 
no higher motives of human action than '^ money." 
''Thank God," he said, ''that he had been bred 
and raised in a country — as they [the jury] had 
been — where honor and the noblest impulses of 
the heart moved and controlled the actions of 
men." 

He went on to say : ' ' When the messenger 
came after me to ISTashville, and told me of the diffi- 
culty that Palemon had got into, I told him 1 would 
not go, — I was sorry to hear of the trouble that had 
befallen the boy, but I could not go to Edwards^dlle 
to defend him. Winchester's children (the father of 
Palemon) and mine played together. They went to 
the same school. The families and children were 
attached to each other. I had resolved, gentlemen 
of the jury, not to go. I could not go. The whole 
family were greatly distressed to hear of the misfor- 
tune that had befallen Palemon, almost as much as if 
he had been one of our own children. At last," 
said he, ''gentlemen of the jury, my little flaxen- 
haired daughter, Malvina, who went to school with 



110 FELIX GRUNDY. 

Gen. Winchester's children, the father of Palemon, 
came and threw her arms around my neck where I sat, 
and burst into tears, and said, ' Pa, you must go.' " 
As he said this, Mr. Grundy burst into a flood of tears 
and boo-hooed audibly ; at the same time, old Gov. 
Edwards boo-hooed aloud, with his whole band and 
company of criers and weepers. The feeling commu- 
nicated itself to the jury, all of whom cried; and 
in truth and in fact, there was hardly a dry eye in 
the com*t-room. This was one of the finest pieces 
of acting during the whole trial. As Mr. Grundy 
recovered himself, after wiping his eyes with his 
handkerchief, he said to the jury, ''Pardon me, 
gentlemen of the jury, this weakness. I do love 
my children, and this is why I am here to defend 
Palemon. From a consideration of feeling, of duty, 
and affection, I was induced to come here to defend 
this case, — the son and child of my old friend, — and 
this is why I am here now. No money could have 
induced me to come." Such scenes took place fre- 
quently during the whole trial. 

I was not present at the trial, but heard of it 
from a dozen friends who were present at the time, 
and who gave me an account of it in all its minutiae 
and details. One striking and remarkable fact was, 
that notwithstanding Parified Smith, who had been 



HIS INTELLECTUAL SUPERIORITY. Ill 

killed, was a Yankee, and Benjamin Mills, the assist- 
ant prosecuting-attorney was a Yankee, and nearly 
half the population of Madison County were Yan- 
kees, the eminent counsel denounced the Yankees in 
the most unmeasured terms, without hesitation or re- 
straint. 

To my old and valued friend, the Rev. John M. 
Peck, deceased, late of Rock Sprino-, Illinois, who 
attended the trial throughout, I am indebted for most 
of the details. That gentleman, in his lifetime, 
more than a dozen times detailed to me all the inci- 
dents of this trial, remarking at the time that it was 
one of the most powerful evidences and illustrations 
of power of mind and thought, exercised by one 
man over his fellow-men, that he had ever witnessed. 

To my ancient and valued friend, the honorable 
and distinguished Joseph Gillespie, so long the able 
and learned judge of the Circuit Courts of Madison 
and St. Clair Counties, in Illinois, who was present 
during this remarkable trial, I am also indebted for 
many incidents and details. 

Among other things. Judge Gillespie said: 
"Maj. Lee and an old man named Wilden both 
swore that they were in the room, and saw Winches- 
ter, with a knife in his hand, approach Smith ; but 
they were both proved to have been so drunk as to 



112 FELIX GRUNDY. 

be incapable of knowing what was going on, and 
Grundy's cross-examination completely riddled their 
testimony, so that it had no weight with the jury." 
I quote further from his Honor, Judge Gillespie, 
who says: ''Winchester was a very popular man. 
I remember the facts and surroundings of the case 
very distinctly. The impression made upon my mind 
was that Grundy was the most lordly man I ever 

* 

beheld. He made it appear that every right exer- 
cised by the prosecution was a generous concession 
on the pai't of the defence. One would think, to 
hear him talk, that he was giving away all the rights 
of his client to avoid controversy. He had an air 
and a manner that was absolutely overwhelming. 
When he discovered that a point was about to be 
ruled against him, he would rise with the most ma- 
jestic and apparently sincere air imaginable, and with 
a graceful wave of the hand he would say to the 
other side, ' Take it, gentlemen ; take all. Any- 
thing to avoid trespassing longer upon the patience 
of this jury and this court. We can afford to con- 
cede everything your consciences will permit you to 
ask.' I think he was the most consummate actor I 
ever saw in a court-house. He was likewise a man- 
ager ; he attended to the outside affairs as well as 
to those inside the bar. He had his auxiliaries as 



PATKICK WALiSH. 113 

well posted as ever ]!^apoleon arranged his forces. 
Plaudits and tears always came in the right places." 
The witnesses are all dead, and of the bystanders (so 
far as I know), I alone am left to tell the story. 



There was a venerable justice of the peace in St. 
Louis, in early times, named Patrick Walsh. He was 
an Irishman by birth. His office was on Olive a 
few doors west of Main Street. About the year 
1832, I had a case before " old Justice Walsh," and 
there was a lawyer opposed to me named John New- 
man. The opposing attorney had some time before 
demanded a jury, and the court laid the case over till 
the twenty-second day of February. The parties 
met promptly at the hour to which the trial had been 
adjourned, and announced that they wei*e ready. 
The Grays, a volunteer military company which 
had been organized in the city, at that time were 
marching through the streets in honor of the day, 
with banners and music. The people had collected 
in large numbers, and were standing on the sidewalks 
looking at the parade. The constable went out to 
summon a jury of six, and very soon came back and 
reported that he could not get a jury, — that every 

8 



lltt PATRICK WALSH. 

man he attempted to summon said to him that he 
would see him in Guinea hefore he would consent to 
serve on a jmy that day. As counsel for the plain- 
tiff, I said, " Let us agree to waive the jury and try 
the case before the court; " a proposition which was 
agreed to. But the venerable Patrick Walsh, the 
justice, said that his record showed that a jury had 
been called for, and that he would not try the case 
after a jury had been demanded ; that whenever a 
party came into his court, he intended to have " the 
law administered in all its pristine and primitive 
purity." Daniel Busby, the constable, said that he 
had seen ''Big Bob Moore" standing down at the 
corner, with a cigar in his mouth, and perhaps he 
could get '' Big Bob Moore" to come up and serve 
as a juror. I then made the proposition to the other 
counsel, that, as it was so difficult to get a jury, 
we should try the case before a jury of one, instead 
of six men, which was agreed to. We then got 
Constable Busby to go out and bring in ' ' Big Bob 
Moore" as a juror, when the parties informed the coui*t 
that, by consent of parties, we would try the case be- 
fore a jury of one man. Mr. Moore was accepted as 
a jury in the case, and duly sworn well and truly to 
try the case, and a true verdict give according to evi- 
dence. The case was formally opened and explained 



A JURY OF ONE 115 

to the jury by the counsel for the plaintiff, after 
which the witnesses were sworn and exammed. The 
evidence in the case having been closed, the lawyers, 
both for plaintiff and defendant, then made their 
arguments to the jury and the case was closed. 
When the trial was finished, and the time had come 
for the jury to make up a verdict, as the justice 
had only the one room, all the persons in the office, 
mcluding the justice, constable, parties, lawyers, 
and witnesses, left the court-room, and went out on 
to the sidewalk to let the jury consider and make up 
its verdict. There was some ice on the sidewalk, and 
it was quite a chilly, cold day ; and as we all waited 
and waited outside a considerable time, some of the 
company complained of the cold, and finally asked 
Constable Busby to open the door and see what was 
the matter with " Big Bob Moore," and why he was 
so long in making up a vei'dict. The constable 
opened the door and called out, ''Mr. Moore, have 
you agreed upon a verdict yet? '' He replied 
promptly, " I^ot ezactly." We waited still a while 
longer, when it was then suggested to 'Squire Walsh 
that it would be better for him to go in and see what 
was the trouble with the jury. So we all went into 
the room, when the venerable justice ordered every- 
body to take off their hats in the court-i'oom ; which 



116 MOSES TAYLOK. 

beingjdone, he directed the constable to call the jury. 
The constable said, ''The jury will answer to their 
name when called," and cried out, " Robert I^. 
Moore!" Mr. Moore answered, ''Here." The 
constable announced to the court that " the jury was 
all present. ' ' The court then inquired, ' ' Mr. Moore, 
have you agreed upon a verdict? " The jury of one 
then stood up and said to the court, " IN^ot ezactly 
'Squire." He further said, "'Squire, the jury is 
hiuiji". When I look at one side of the case, I think 
I ought to give it that way ; but then I come to look 
at the evidence on the other side, I see I cannot give 
a verdict for that side, and so the jury is hung, for I 
cannot make up a verdict." The jury of one was 
then discharged and the case continued. So much 
for a jury of one. 



There was another justice of the peace in the city 
of St. Louis, many years ago, named Moses Taylor. 
He was a short, chunky, fat old fellow, about as 
broad as a bale of cotton, and he used to call himself 
the " natural Falstaff," and pride himself upon his 
proportions. Although he had not wit himself, he 
was the great cause of much wit in others. 



A TRIAL IN TAYLOK'S COURT. 117 

A couple of yomig men, in driving down to Vide 
Poche, as Carondelet was then called, came in contact 
with a Frenchman dri^dng his cart along the road. 
One of the young men sprang out of the buggy and 
struck the Frenchman several severe blows. The 
Frenchman employed Wilson Primm, a lawyer of high 
standing, to bring suit for assault and battery against 
the young men. After the young men had been ar- 
rested, they sent for me to go down and defend them. 
I tried to beg off, and asked to be excused, and even 
refused to go before the justice, stating that I had 
long since refused to practise in a justice's court. I 
recommended them to get some young' lawyer to at- 
tend to the case. Still they insisted and urged upon 
me to go and defend them ; that the Frenchman had 
engaged Primm, who was a first-rate lawyer, and 
whom a young attorney would not be able to fairly 
meet, and that they must get a lawyer whom they 
supposed able to cope with the able gentleman on the 
other side ; claiming that they had always voted for 
and supported me when I had been a candidate for 
office, and that I must help them out of the present 
scrape. Finally I consented to go. 

Having been over-persuaded, I went down to 
Justice Moses Taylor's office to defend the young 
men. AYlien we arrived thei*e, a jury of twelve men. 



118 MOSES TAYLOR. 

who had been summoned, some six or eight witnesses ^ 
and the prosecutor with his counsel (Primm) were 
in attendance. With myself and my clients, the 
constable, and some spectators who had collected^ 
the room was full of people. 

When that large specimen of hiunanity, the big, 
fat justice, who represented the State of Missouri, 
called the case for trial, the parties announced them- 
selves ready to proceed. I, as counsel for the defend- 
ants, entered a motion to dismiss the proceedings for 
certain irregularities and defects, to which I drew the 
attention of the court. While I was making my 
speech, the old justice would say aloud, " Grood, 
good ; that' s the law, — good . ' ' Mr. Primm replied to 
this, '' Hold on ; if the court please, I have a word to 
say." Justice Taylor said, ''Very well; when Mr. 
Darby gets through, you shall have your say-so." 
AVhen I had concluded my argument, Mr. Primm ad- 
dressed the court in reply. He was combating the 
position I had taken, and as he was proceeding wdth 
his speech the justice would say aloud, " Mr. Darby, 
Primm is right. What have you got to say to 
that? " To which 1 replied, '' AYhen Mr. Primm gets 
through, I will show the fallacy of his argument." 
And when I, in turn, was replying to Mr. Primm, 
the ponderous old Moses Taylor would say, " Mr. 



A COMPLACENT JUSTICE. 119 

Priinm, Mr. Darby is right after all ; he has the law 
on liis side, sir ; he is right." And so we went on, and 
kept making speeches, first on one side and then 
on the other, without any regulai-ity as to the pro- 
ceedings. The venerable justice would always de- 
cide in favor of the counsel who made the last 
speech. We had been conducting the proceedings 
in this manner for a long time, — nearly an hour, — 
and could not get to the trial of the case before 
the jury. After a pause, Mr. Primm rose, and with 
a solemn countenance and manner said, " If the 
court please, I have a motion to make to the court, 
and one which I hope my friend Mr. Darby will not 
oppose ; it is this : I move the court to adjourn to 
Louis Vacheri's drinking-saloon, and let us all take 
a horn." '' Good, good," said old Moses Taylor; 
' ' the court will entertain that motion without de- 
bate. ' ' Calling out to his constable, Peter Guy on, he 
said, " Peter e^ adjourn the court into Louis Vacheri's 
drinking-house, and let us all take a horn." Con- 
stable Peter Guy on made proclamation thus : ' ' O yes, 
O yes, the Honorable Moses Taylor's Court is now 
adjourned into Louis Vacheri's grocery for us all to 
take a horn." The whole crowed went in and all 
took a drink, being treated by Mr. Primm. 

I took Mr. Primm aside and said to him that 



120 JOSEPH V. GAKNIEPv. 

we should never be able to get the case tried before 
Justice Taylor, and requested him to see his client 
and I would see mine, and try if we could not 
settle the case ; that we had spent an hour and done 
nothing. Conferring privately with my clients, 
they directed me to settle the case as I saw proper, 
adding, ^'If Ave can get off Avith the costs, we will 
be satisfied.'' I went to Mr. Primm and told him 
that my clients would agree to pay the costs if he 
would dismiss the suit. Mr. Primm saw his party, 
and came back to me and said if my men would 
pay the costs and treat the whole company, the 
prosecutor would dismiss the suit. The parties de- 
fendant being informed of the proposition, agreed to 
it ; and the suit was settled in that way in the drink- 
ing-saloon, my clients handing' ten dollars to the 
constable to pay all costs, and calling up and treat- 
ing the whole company. 



There was anothei* justice of the peace in St. 
Louis, who had held that official position almost 
from the beginning of the American government 
in Louisiana. It was Joseph Y. Gai-nier, who 
died about tlnrty years ago. His widow, said to be 



A DIFFICULT PASSAGE. 121 

upwards of ninety years, is still living in this city. 
Mr. Gamier had come to this country from France, 
about the l^eginning- of the present century. He 
resided at first in ]N"ew Yoi*k, and afterwards in 
Washington City. He joined the old Federal party 
in politics, and used to wear the black cockade in the 
times of old John Adams. 

Mr. Garnier was a very small man, and had a 
tremendously big nose, wliich was apt to arrest the 
attention of any one meeting him. In the early 
settlement of St. Louis, the houses were not set in 
regular line, so that in many places the sidewalks 
were not more that two feet broad. The meetino- of 
persons in these narrow pass-ways would cause one 
of the parties to step into the street. One day a 
stranger, a Frenchman, with a very large nose, met 
Mr. Gamier in one of these narrow pathways. The 
stranger stopped and looked at Mr. Garnier, staring 
at him with great amazement and a theatrical sur- 
prise, which caused Mr. Garnier to stop and look at 
the stranger with an inquiring glance. As soon as 
Garnier had done this, the stranger put his hand to 
his nose, pulled it to one side, and said to Garnier in 
French, " Go by," and then passed on. 

On one occasion, in an assault and batterv case 
before Justice Garnier, an Irishman named Jimmy 



122 JOSEPH V. GAKNIEK, 

IS'agle appeared to conduct the defence. Mr. ^N^agle 
became very offensive in his manner and language 
before the court, — loud, boisterous, and unruly. 
Then it was, for the first time, we heard the expres- 
sion and inquiry, " What is the difference, in the eye 
of the law, Avhether he said ' Come out here, McCart- 
ney,' or 'McCartney, come here? ' " Justice Garnier 
at last stopped Jimmy IN^agle, and asked him where 
he was from ; to which the defending attorney replied 
that he was ' ' an attorney and counsellor at law from 
Cahokia, in Illinois, sure." The court then said to 
him, ''If you are not more respectful to the court, 
the court will have to fine you for contempt." 
Thereupon the Cahokia legal gentleman replied, 
" Your court is most damnably impregnated with 
dignity, sure." Whereupon Justice Garnier fined 
him two dollars for contempt of court. 

Justice Garnier, in his capacity of justice, used 
to take the acknowledgments of deeds and the relin- 
quishment of dower of married women. The form 
for the relinquishment of dower of a married woman 
by statute law usually ran thus : — 

'^And the said Mary Ann Smith, wife of the said 
James Smith, l)eing by me made acquainted with the 
contents of said deed, acknowledged, on an exami- 
nation separate and apart from her said husband, that 



A QUEER ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 12B 

she executed the same, and relmquishes her dower 
in the real estate therein mentioned, freely, and with- 
out compulsion or undue influence of her said hus- 
band,'- etc. 

Justice Garnier, being negligent and careless^ 
wrote out an acknowledgment to a deed thus : ''And 
the said Mary Ann Smith, wife of the said James 
Smith, being by me made acquainted with the contents 
of her said husband^ acknowledged, on an examina- 
tion separate and apart from her said husband, that 
she executed," etc. The deed, vnih that acknowl- 
edgment so made, was actually entered of record, and 
so remains to this day. 



In the year 1820, Joseph J. Monroe, a brother to 
the then president of the United States, James Mon- 
roe, came to St. Louis to live. He was a practising 
lawyer, and a gentleman of education and elegant 
and polished manners. He died here in the year 
1824 or 1825. 

He went down to Jackson, the county seat of 
Cape Girardeau County, to attend court, John D. 
Cook, circuit judge, presiding. He had a peculiar 
way of talking in a soft and gentle tone and manner ; 



124 JOHN D. COOK. 

and when he came back he told all abont his trip. 
He said : " Gentlemen, I will tell yon how this man, 
Judge John D. Cook, decides his cases. When the 
lawyers have argued their cases before the judge, he 
gets up off the bench and goes out by the wood-pile 
and picks up a chip, and he then climbs over the 
fence into the corn-field, and he goes away off into 
the field where nobody can see him, and he looks all 
around to assure himself that he is entirely unob- 
served, and then he spits upon the chip and throws 
it up, and says, ' Wet for plaintiff, dry for defend- 
ant; ' and that is the way John D. Cook decides his 
cases. And, moreover," said he, '' gentlemen, this 
John D. Cook is a damned ugly man." 

Another anecdote which I have heard concerning 
Judge John D. Cook is this: Judge Cook was 
holding court, and the country folks all came into 
court on the first day of the term, as was customary 
with the farming people ; and among the rest there 
was a very tall man, by the name of Kennedy, a head 
higher than the balance of the people in attendance 
on the court. Mr. Kennedy was said to have worn 
a large broad-brimmed hat, which as a matter of 
course attracted attention, as it was elevated on 
his tall figure above the crowd. The court and 



A LEGAL SET-OFF. 125 

sheriff both observed him. The sheriff called out 
to him, ""Take off yom* hat in the com't-hoiise." 
Old man Kennedy shouted out, " My head is bald, — 
my head is bald, I say; I can't take off my hat." 
After the sheriff had called out once or twice, and 
Mr. Kennedy would not take off his hat, because he 
said his head would get cold, as his head was bald, 
Judge Cook said, " Mr. Sheriff, bring that man be- 
fore the court ; the tribunals of the country must 
be respected. Everybody must have respect for the 
court." Old man Kennedy was chewing tobacco 
when brought before the court, and the judge said to 
him, ' ' Why didn't you take your hat off when ordered 
to do so by the sheriff?" Mr. Kennedy replied, 
" Judge, my head is bald, — my head is bald, and I 
shall take cold if I take off my hat." The judge then 
said, " Mr. Clerk, enter up a fine of five dollars against 
Mr. Kennedy for refusing to take his hat off in the 
court-house when ordered to do so by the sheriff. 
The tribunals of the country must be respected . ' ' Old 
man Kennedy chewed his tobacco very emphatically, 
ran his hand down into his pocket and hauled out two 
dollars in silver, and held them up to the judge, say- 
ing, ''Judge, here are two dollars, and the three 
you owed me last night when we quit playing poker 



126 WILLIAM STOKES. 

will make us even, won't it? " To which the judge 
replied with a short, emphatic direction to the sheriff 
to take that man out of the court-house. 



William Stokes came to St. Louis from England 
in the year 1819 or 1820. He was reputed to be 
a man of wealth, and had brought with him at that 
time the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars in gold, which then was of more value west 
of the Mississippi River than two millions of gold 
would be to-day. He was a man of education, 
refined manners, and cultivation. He brought with 
him a lady of polished manners, who had been bred 
in the highest circles of English society, who was 
introduced to society in St. Louis as his wife. 
William Stokes had also an unmarried sister who 
came with him. Miss Stokes was a lady of educa- 
tion, prepossessing in appearance, and of winning 
manners. She had been bred, educated, and reared 
in the best society of England. 

William Stokes and family were received in St. 
Louis with most open-handed hospitality, courtesy, 
and kindness. They were courted, feasted, feted, 



PURCHASES LAND AND BUILDS A FINE MANSION. 127 

and entertained by everybody. Parties and banquets 
were lavished upon them. 

The history and story of WiUiam Stokes possess 
sufficient pubhc interest to be told, and I propose 
to give some of the incidents of the man as con- 
nected with the past history of St. Louis. 

When William Stokes came to St. Louis, he 
bouofht about two hundred acres of land at the end 
of the first tier of forty-arpent lots extending west- 
wardly from the original town of St. Louis, being 
about two miles west of the town. It was a lovely 
spot, on that elevated piece of ground this side of 
what was formerly designated and termed by the 
French the " Grand Prairie." At that time there 
was not a human habitation to be seen in the prairie 
save the residence of Rector, north of the St. Charles 
Road. The ground was rolling, with little clumps of 
crab-apple trees interspersed, around which wild rose- 
bushes grew and were entwined. The rich, green, 
luxuriant sward waved to the gentle breeze like a 
fresh wheat-field in May. To add to the scene, John 
P. Ca])anne's windmill could be seen in the distance, 
across the prairie near the timber, with its large 
wings, fifty or sixty feet long, flying in the air like a 
thing of life ; herds were grazing, too, in this uncul- 



128 WILLIAM STOKES. 

tivated pasture, which made it one of the pleasantest 
of scenes. 

As showing the effect of this beautiful prospect 
upon the human mind and feehngs, I beg leave to 
relate an incident. A gentleman who came to St. 
Louis by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and 
consequently had never seen a prairie, rode out on 
horseback alone on the St. Charles Road, to take a 
look at the country. When he came to the apex of 
that beautiful eminence north of the St. Chai'les Road 
called by the French '' Cote Brilliante," he paused 
to admire and contemplate the lovely scene before 
him. So charmed was he, that in his enthusiasm he 
raised himself in the stirrups, took off his hat, and 
shouted ' ' Glory ! ' ' This place which we have at- 
tempted to describe was to the west and adjoining 
the spot where ''old Stokes" had built his house, 
at that time perhaps the finest and most costly pri- 
vate residence in the county of St. Louis, ^o ex- 
pense was spared ; out-buildings, stables, and barns 
were erected at a great outlay of money ; grounds 
were opened, improved, and ornamented ; orchards, 
gardens, fruit trees, and shrubbery were planted ; 
plants and flowers were set out, and elegant walks 
were made and ornamented. Everything that taste, 



COL. JOHN OTALLON. 129 

cultivation, and refinement could invent, or wealth 
purchase, had been procured with a Ixnuitiful hand 
by the founder of this elegant country-seat. 

John O'Fallon woed, won, and married Miss 
Stokes. And who Avas John O' Fallon? One of the 
most popular and disting-uished men in the city of 
St. Louis, or the State of Missouri was ever honored 
with or could boast of. Born near Louis\dlle, Ken- 
tucky, when a young man he went forth to help fight 
the battles of his country. He had been aid to Gen. 
William Henr}^ Harrison, and was in the ever-memo- 
rable battle of Tippecanoe, where the Indians, who 
had been trained by Tecumseh, fought with unusual 
desperation and courage. The whites knew that if 
they were defeated in that battle, the tomahawk and 
scalping-knife of the savages would be reeking mth 
the blood of all the women and children in every 
log-cabin in the then thin settlement upon the banks 
of the Ohio. Every white man, therefore, who went 
into that battle, did so with a firm determination to 
conquer or die, — to come off victorious or leave his 
bones on the battle-field. In that engagement the 
loud voice of O' Fallon could be heard far above the 
din of battle and the clash of arms, almost in the 
last words of Marmion, ''On, soldiers, on; charge, 
Davis, charge!" Davis did charge, and in that 

9 



130 WILLIAM STOKES. 

charge the gallant, the heroic Jo. Davis fell. O' Fal- 
lon ])aused not. He dropped no ill-timed tear over 
the bleeding body of his dying friend, l3nt with his 
bright steel still pointing to the foe, led the way into 
the thickest of the fight, his brave comrades falling on 
every side of him, his own person all besmeared with 
dnst and blood from the wonnds on his own body ; 
still self-possessed, still enconraging and londly 
cheering his men, as if to drown the shrieks of the 
wonnded and dying ; till at last one lond, one victori- 
ons shont along the whole line of l)attle proclaimed 
the enemy fled, the battle fonght, and the victory 
won. It was then and there that he received the 
honorable scar on his person, in defence of his coun- 
try, that he carried through life and went with to 
the grave. 

O' Fallon had fought along the whole Canada 
frontier in the war of 1812, where he was charged 
with the duty of defending his country's honor; 
winning from his commander, Gen. William Henry 
Harrison, the proud eulogium, that '^whenever 
O' Fallon was on duty, and in command, he could 
always sleep soundly and secure." 

Such was the man who married Miss Stokes. 
The alliance strengthened ''old Stokes " in his plans 
and schemes of happiness in his new home, and 



HIS REAL WIFE APPEARS. 131 

assured him of a strong foothold in the new commu- 
nity. As he rode out on horsehack from St. Louis 
to his princely mansion, when reaching the gate at 
the end of the cultivated lawn in front of his domi- 
cile, the sun, Avith his rich, red, broad disk, was just 
sinking beneath the western horizon, beyond the 
prairies and beautiful landscape we have mentioned. 
The \dew was most charming and enchanting. Here 
''old Stokes," with complacent satisfaction, after 
the buffets and storms of life, inwardly said to 
himself, here was repose and quiet. 

' ' So f riendl}^ to the best pursuits of man ; 
FrieiuUy to thought, to \artue and to peace. 
Rural life in genial leisure passed," etc. 

In the midst of these dreams of future hap]3iness 
and pleasure, Marianne Stokes, the real wife of Wil- 
liam Stokes, made her appearance in St. Louis, 
charging her husband, William Stokes, with ha\dng^ 
abandoned his real wife, taken up with his house- 
keeper in England, and passed her off on society 
as his lawful wife. 

Here was evinced another trait of human nature 
so common the world over. The people, and pro- 
fessed friends of "old Stokes," who had basked in 
the sunshine of his ^ealth and drunk of the cup of 
his hospitality, deserted, shunned, and avoided liim. 



132 WILLIAM STOKES. 

One gentleman in particniar, who claimed to belong- 
to the elite of society, and who was fond of showing 
snch attentions and marks of conrteons, refined 
respect to the lady at balls and parties as was dne to 
her snpposed rank and station in society, spoke ill- 
natnredly of her, said ''she never looked like a 
lady, — that he conld always see something abont 
her that indicated she had been bred in the kitchen, 
and accnstomed to the handling of pots, skillets, und 
ovens." This was a vile slander. She had been 
well bred and educated. 

The real Mrs. Stokes was a lady that had been 
accnstomed to the best society in England. Coming- 
here, however, into this backwoods country, when 
the grades in life were so marked hi hei* own country, 
she seemed to have an irrepressible contempt, as it 
were, for the whole people and their supposed equal- 
ity ; not politically, l^ut in manners and customs. 
She boarded at Mrs. Paddock's; and it was said of 
her that she scorned to eat with the knives and forks 
of the rude and unpolished people she considered 
herself throAvn among, and that she carried in her 
pocket a very fine little mahogany case in which were 
enclosed a knife, fork, and silver spoon which she 
always used at table. 

Marianne Stokes employed Col. Luke Edward 



A SUIT FOE DIVORCE. 133 

Lawless, with whom Mr. Geyer and John Scott of 
Ste. Genevieve were associated, and filed a bill for 
divorce and alimony against William Stokes. Ben- 
ton, Strother, and Faris defended and answered for 
Stokes. Col. Lawless was the principal counsel for 
the complainant, and was very severe in his bill, 
charging that Stokes had taken up with ' ' one Ann 
Smith, whom he had taken from the vilest class of 
the population of the city of London, and kept and 
supported the said Ann as his mistress." The case 
was tried before !N^athaniel Beverly Tucker, judge 
of the St. Louis Circuit Court. 

A jury was sworn to find a special verdict of the 
facts. It consisted of the following well-known names 
in St. Louis, to wit: George Morton, Gabriel C. 
Cerre, Joseph White, John R. Guy, Joseph Liggett, 
Jonathan Johnson, James J. Purdy, John Sutton, 
Dempsey Jackson, William Anderson, James Loper, 
and James B. Lewis. A decree of divorce Avas 
ultimately obtained. The case was taken to the 
Supreme Court. 

Judge Pettibone, of the Supi-eme Court of Mis- 
souri, and the other two judges, did not seem to 
censure Stokes so much. Judge Pettibone said : 
" It appears by the complainant's own showing that 
she and her husband separated by consent in 1807, 



134 WILLIAM STOKES. 

and that they had never shice lived together ; that m 
1816 she left the neighborhood in England, and went 
over to France. ^ ^ ^ The laws of England af- 
forded her redress ; she was free to seek it there if 
she wished it ; she was nnder no coercion of her hns- 
band, for she lived separate from him ; she was not 
forced away by him before she con Id have an oppor^ 
tnnity to make her complaints. If for nine years 
she conld behold, withont complaining, the open 
adnltery and profligacy of her hnsband, I see no 
reason why the courts of this country should at this 
hour be called upon to interfere in her behalf. It is 
against good policy and good morals to do it. 
Investigating cases of this kind leaves a bad im- 
pression upon the public mind and has a tendenc}^ 
to deprave the public morals, and ought to be re- 
sorted to only where the due administration of justice 
imperiously i*equires it. Every offence committed 
within our own countiy against the morals and 
manners of society we are bound to notice and 
punish, whenever we can get an opportunity. But 
it is carrying our comity very far to say that we 
must investigate the adulteries and family quarrels 
which took place in England perhaps ten years 
ago, when the parties had an opportunity of apply- 
ing to their own courts. And I am unwilling to 



HIS DAILY PRAYER. 135 

establish the principle that parties may lie by in 
their own country under injuries of this kind, and 
then come here and ask us for the redress which they 
mig'ht and ought to have obtained there." 

During the progress of the suit, and before the 
final decree, the court ordered Stokes to pay ninety 
dollars a month to Marianne Stokes, pendente lite. 
The Circuit Court had adjourned, and Lawless would 
go and get a copy of this judgment from that court 
and sue Stokes on it befoi*e a justice of the peace, 
who then had jurisdiction to the extent of ninety 
dollars. Stokes's lawyer told him it was not legal ; 
but Stokes could not help himself. ]S^obody would 
go his security in an appeal. Poor ''old Stokes" 
would ride into town every morning to see his 
lawyers. He had a daily prayei' which he i-epeated 
to his counsel ; it w^as : ' ' The Lord protect me from 
a lawyer who has only one client." Sullivan Blood 
was then constable. Every month he w^ould go out 
to "" old Stokes's" place and serve him with a sum- 
mons. After judgment, the same Constable Blood 
would go out with an execution in which was a clause 
of capias satisfaciendum^ and for '' Avantof sufficient 
goods and chattels" whereon to levy, he was com- 
manded by the writ to take the body of the said 
''William Stokes, and commit him to the common 



136 WILLIAM STOKES. 

jail of St. Louis County," etc. Very often this 
same Constable Blood would go out to the '' Stokes 
place" in the winter months, when the sleet, ice, and 
snow were on the ground, and tell him if the money 
was not paid he would have to bring him in and 
commit his body to the misei*able old stone jail, 
which stood where the "Laclede Hotel " now stands. 
Stokes would use his daily prayer, for " the Lord to 
protect him from a lawyer who had only, one client," 
and satisfy the execution. Month after month did 
Mr. Constable Blood harass and annoy " old Stokes " 
with fresh executions in this way, at the instance of 
Col. Lawless. 

Stokes had engaged Gen. William H. Ashley as 
his agent to purchase lands for him, and in that ca- 
pacity Gen. Ashley had invested and laid out about 
one hundred thousand dollars for Stokes. T4iere 
were, perhaps, as many as one or two hundred differ- 
ent tracts of land in the Missouri military district 
alone. Of course, the large body of these lands were 
vacant, unimproved property, which produced no 
revenue or income. " Hard times " came on ; lands 
and real estate l^ecame greatly depressed in value, 
so that they woidd not sell for one-fourth of what 
they had cost, — in fact, there were no purchasers, — 
and Stokes had taxes to pay. 

Stokes, it was said, had been engaged by George 



STOKES AND QUEEN CAKOLINE. 137 

IV. to hunt up and make and procure evidence 
against Queen Caroline, and had been paid liberally, 
and in fact made rich, — receiving upvv^ards of fifty 
thousand pounds sterling for his unscrupulous con- 
nection with that gi^eat scmidalum mfiagnatum case. 
The story, so far as he was concerned, is somewhat 
involved in mystery. A secret commission had been 
appointed by his majesty and his ministers, called 
the Milan co^inmissioners, a board of three pei*sons, — 
a chancery lawyer, a colonel in the army, and »n ac- 
tive attorney, — to proceed to Italy, and in a clandes- 
tine and disreputable manner, by perjury or otherwise, 
procure evidence against the queen. 

' ' George IV. had scarcely ascended the throne 
when perplexities, if of a less painful kind, of a more 
harassing one, ai-rested him. The Princess Caro- 
hne, his consort, who had long resided in Italy, 
announced her determination of returning to Eng- 
land and claiming the appointments and rank of 
queen. Her life abroad had given rise to the 
grossest imputations, and her presiding at the court 
of England while these imputations continued would 
have been intolerable. But the means adopted to 
abate the offence argued a singular ignorance of 
human nature. ' Hell has no fury like a woman 
scorned.' " 

The ''fury of a woman scorned" is as old as 



138 ■ WILLIAM STOKES. 

human nature. Yet this violent woman had been 
insulted by the conduct of every English functionary 
abroad. She no sooner received the announceraent 
of the death of George III., than, defying all re- 
monstrance and spurning the tardy attempts of min- 
isters to conciliate her, she rushed back to England. 

''Lord Liverpool was utterly unequal to the 
emergency. Always hitherto a feeble, unpurposed, 
and timid minister, he now put on a preposterous 
courage, and defied the desperate woman. He might 
better have taken a tiger by the throat. He had 
even the folly to bring her to tiial. That he could 
not have obtained a divorce by any law, human or 
divine, the reasons were obvious. 

' ' The low practices against the queen were abhor- 
rent to the English mind, and the evidence against 
her was so repulsive that the crimes imputed to her 
were forgotten in the public scorn of the accusers.; 
and this, it was charged, was wherein Stokes had 
played his part. This feeling, however suppressed 
in the higher ranks, took open way with the multi- 
tude ; and while ministers were forced to steal down 
to the House, or were ^dsible only to receive all 
species of insults from the mob, the queen Avent daily 
to her trial in a popular triumph. Her levees at 
Brandenburg House, a small villa on the banks of 
the Thames, where she resided for the season, 



TRIUMPH OF QUEEN CAROTJNE. 139 

were still more triuinphaiit. Daily processions of 
the people filled the road. The artisans marched 
with the badges of their callings ; the brotherhoods 
of trades, the Masons' lodges, the friendly societies, 
all the nameless incorporations which made their 
charters withont the aid of office and gave their 
little senates laws, down to the fish- women, paid their 
respects in fnll costume, and assured her majesty, in 
many a high-flown piece of eloquence, of her ' living 
in the hearts of her faithful people.' 

''All the trades were zealous promoters of the 
processions. The holiday, the summer drive, the 
dress, the ' hour's importance to the poor man's 
heai't,' were not to be forgotten among the accesso- 
ries. But the true motive, paramount to all, was 
honest English disdain at the mode in which the evi- 
dence had been collected and the mixture of weak- 
ness with which the prosecution was carried on. 
Concession after concession was forced from minis- 
ters. The title of queen was acknowledged, and 
finally Lord Liverpool, beaten in the Lords, became 
an object of outrageous detestation to the populace, 
admitted that he could proceed no further, and 
withdrew the prosecution. The announcement was 
caught up by the multitude, and London Avas tilled 
with acclamations." 

It was reported that Stokes had made himself 



140 WILLIAM STOKES. 

odious and detestable by the part taken by him in 
this prosecution ; that he was forced to flee from his 
native land. He brought with him more than twen- 
ty-eight thousand pounds sterling to this town. His 
wife found out his whereabouts from the Barings, 
bankers in London, informing her that hi's sterling 
bills drawn on them were dated at St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. Paul, we are told, made Felix tremble upon 
a more sacred and hallowed subject. In this trial in 
the British Parhament, George IV., with all his min- 
isters, through the power of public opinion, was made 
to fear and tremble : that monarch upon whose do- 
minions was " eternal sunshine," and upon whose ex- 
tended empires the ' ' sun never sets ; " at that time 
the very head of civilization of all earthly powers 
of the habitable globe. 

Here was a trial, not before an ordinary jury of 
British sul^jects, but before the lords of the realm in 
the British Parliament ; before one of the most culti- 
vated, intellectual, and dignifled asseml)lies of the 
age ; where there were eloquence and learning, 
ability and genius, mind, thought, and power, with 
round-turned periods, winning accents, and convinc- 
mg arguments, that charmed and carried the under- 
iStandino- and enlisted the nobler and better feelinsfs 
of the heart ; compared witli which the recent 
Beecher trial, with the long, drawling, unimpas- 



BROUGHAM ON QUEEN CHARLOTTE. 141 

sioned, prosy, Old Hundred, go-to-sleep efforts of 
Mr. Evarts were but a farce and a burlesque, wbich 
the multitude at its close applauded, not so much 
as an approval of the doleful and uninteresting- 
harangue, as at the great relief and satisfaction all 
felt that he was done. 

The queen was defended by her attorney, Mr. 
Brougham, and her solicitor-general, Mr. Denman, 
with whom were associated Mr. Justice Williams, Mr. 
Sergeant Wilde, and Dr. Lushington. Brougham's 
manner of thought and power of expression is so 
concise, we are tempted to quote one single sentence 
from him. Of Queen Charlotte he says: ''Queen 
Charlotte was a woman of the most extraordinary 
understanding, of exceedingly sordid propensities, 
of manners and disposition that rendered her pecu- 
liarly unamiable, of a person so plain as at once to 
defy all possible suspicion of infidelity, and to en- 
hance the virtue by increasing the difficulty of her 
husband's underrating constancy to her bed." 

We turn once more to Mr. Stokes. His wife 
obtained her divorce and alimony. The w^oman 
Stokes brought with him from England as his wife 
died; his sister, wdio had married Col. O'Fallon, and 
the children born of the marriage, died. Stokes was 
left " solitary and alone." He was harassed, beset 



? 



142 AVILLIAM STOKES. 

and worried by United States marshals, sheriffs, and 
constables, in addition to being set npon l)y Col. 
Lnke Edward Lawless and his client, Marianne 
Stokes. His property was sold by the officers of the 
law, and sacrificed in many instances at less than 
one-tenth of what he had paid for it. The flatterers 
and sycophants who had lived in the snnshine of his 
smiles in the days of his prosperity and wealth, 
shnnned and avoided him ; nay, they denonnced, 
abnsed, and villified him, verifying, in this instance 
at least, the lines of the poet : — 

" And what is friendship but a name — 
A charm that lulls to sleep — 
A shade that follows wealth or fame, 
But leaves the wretch to weep ? ' ' 



? 



Stokes, broken-hearted, disconraged, despondent 
depressed, and broken np, pined and died, far 
from his native land, with no kind hand of affection 
near to soothe his pain and rob his death-bed of half 
its angnish. What mattered it to him now, that he 
had shared the smiles and enjoyed the rich bonnty of 
one of the mightiest monarchs of the age, before 
whose military power the great ]N^apoleon had fallen V 
He was called at last to share the common lot of 
hnmanity, literally worried and harassed to death. 
He was bnried abont one hnndred yards from his 



THE GRAVE OF STOKES. 143 

costly mansion, a little soiitli of where Olive Street 
now passes, on his own gronnd, encnmhered thongh 
it was with judgments and liens far beyond its value. 
A little grove of timber, long since swept away, 
came up to the enclosure in which his remains were 
interred. 

There Stokes slept the sleep of death, ' ' solitary 
and alone;" not like Sir John Moore, " alone in his 
glory," with his "martial cloak around him," but 
like some unfortunate " outcast," far from the scenes 
of his nativity and childhood, over^ whose grave not 
one single tear of sorrow had been dropped. The 
noble and generous-hearted John O' Fallon never 
deserted him, but stood by him to the last; was 
appointed his executor, and administered upon the 
remnant of his insolvent estate. In less than four 
years from the time that Stokes came to St. Louis 
with his twenty-eight thousand pounds sterling, — 
worth then, with exchange, far more than one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars in gold, — his fortune 
had been lost and squandered ; and all those who 
had come with him from England had previously 
been carried down the current of time into the vortex 
of oblivion. 

After Stokes's death, O' Fallon, as executor, 
sold that valuable property to the Rev. Alexander 
McAllister, who sold to George Collier. These gen- 



114 WILLIAM STOKES. 

tlemen occupied the property and protected Stokes's 
grave. Georg-e Collier sold and conveyed the prop- 
erty to John F. Darby, who saw that the grave was 
not disturbed. "In the twilight, in the evening, in 
the black and dark night," many a time and oft have 
I heard the whippoorwill sing his mournful song in 
the little grove near Stokes's grave. It disturbed 
him not; he slept that ''sleep that knows no wak- 
mg. 

Time wore on ; the city kept growing and creep- 
ing on to the west. The pine paling that enclosed 
Stokes's grave rotted down, and the small grass- 
grown mound of earth over his bones became lev- 
elled with the face of the earth and disappeared 
entirely ; the cattle and horses grazed over the spot. 
The two miles of timl^er between Stokes's house and 
the city disappeared foi'ever. All the valuable im- 
provements made by Stokes — the costly mansion, 
out-buildings, orchards, ornamental trees, shrubbery, 
and walks — were sw^ept away from the face of the 
earth as completely as if they had never existed. 
Streets had been laid out, and solid blocks, — some of 
them costly marble buildings, — elegant private resi- 
dences, and magnificent church edifices, whose lofty, 
towei'ing spires pointing to the heavens can be seen 
in the distance for miles around, now cover the land 
once possessed, cultivated, and improved by Stokes. 



DESECRATION OP HIS GKAVE. 145 

A few years ag-o (April, 1875), a party, in dig-- 
giiig a cellar near Olive Sti'eet, dug* into Stokes's 
g-rave. The coffin, with all its contents, had long 
since mingled with mother earth, save and except the 
skull and the large thigh-hones. All these were dug 
up, pitched into a cart and hauled away, and emptied 
into a depression in filling* up a street to the proper 
level, with as little ceremony as hauling away the 
refuse of a stable. The cranium that had contained 
the brain, and the tongue that had helped to plan 
the schemes and concocted the deep-laid plots against 
Queen Caroline ; the adviser and counsellor of 
Lord Liverpool in that most extraordinary case ; that 
man who had drawn such immense sums of money 
from his Britannic majesty for his secret services in 
that most scandalous case, — was doomed at last to 
have his remains devoted to such base purposes as 
this. Poor old Stokes had no stone slab over his 
remains, with the maledictions thereon such as those 
which are supposed to have been intended, and remain 
in the slab over the great English bard, and which 
we vary from the original thus : — 

Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear 

To dig tiie dust enclosed here ; 

Blessed be the man who spares these stones, 

And cursed be he who moves my bones. 

10 



146 WILLIAM STOKES. 

This was the last of old Stokes, except two locust- 
trees planted hy him, standing in what is now La- 
clede Avenue, which stood on the east and west sides 
of the large gate leading up to his ancient and 
costly mansion. ''What shadows we are, and what 
shadows we pursue." 

Col. John O' Fallon has been spoken of in con- 
nection with this story. It should be stated that 
Col. O' Fallon married a second time, his second 
wife being Miss Caroline Sheets, daughter of the 
Widow Sheets, who was a half-sister to Frederick 
Dent, Esq., now deceased, and who was father-in- 
law of Gen. Grant, ex-president of the United 
States. The marriage took place at the residence of 
the Widow Sheets, west side of Third Street, a few 
dooi's above Myrtle Street. Col. John O'Fallon died 
at an advanced age, about tAvelve years ago (1868), 
after accumulating a very large fortune, estimated at 
some eight millions of dollars, and leaving a niost re- 
spectable family of children. His amiable widow 
still survives, and lives in a '' splendid retiracy," in a 
manner becoming her great worth and exalted posi- 
tion in society, and such as comports with her retir- 
ing, secluded, and domestic turn of mind. 

We beg pardon for introducing on this occasion 
an incident connected with O'Fallon's second mar- 



A CHARIVARI. 147 

riage, as somewhat illustrating the spirit of the age 
and times in St. Louis fifty years ago. The custom 
had prevailed in St. Louis among the French in- 
habitants, from time immemorial, when a widower 
or widow got married, to charivari them on the 
night of the wedding. It was determined, therefore, 
to charivari Col. O' Fallon on the night of his second 
marriage. For this purpose about a thousand or 
twelve hundred of the ''boys'' collected together 
and proceeded down the street, and stopped in front 
of the house where the wedding took place. They 
had horns, trumpets, tin pans, tambourines, drums, 
triangles, and every conceivable instrument that 
could make a noise. They yelled, they screeched, 
and shouted. They bleated like sheep ; they lowed 
like cattle ; they crowed like chickens. They had a 
sprinkling of the Rocky Mountain fur-traders and 
trappers with them, who occasionally seasoned the 
entertainment with Indian yells and war-whoops. 
They made such a hideous noise and confusion of 
sounds that the guests in the house could hardly hear 
themselves talk. 

At last Judge Peck, of the United States Court 
for the Missouri District, who had stood up with him 
on that occasion, came out on the little platform in 
front of the house, and called out in a loud voice, 



148 WILLIAM STOKES. 

''Silence! Silence!" The noise ceased. Judge 
Peck went on to say : " 1 want to know who is the 
commander of this very respectable company of gen- 
tlemen? " Col. Charles Keemle stepped forward 
and said he ' ' had the honor to command this very 
respectable company of gentlemen." Such was the 
honor and respect paid to power, even to that of the 
loafers and rabble, in which many men of respecta- 
bility and standing had for the fun and frolic joined. 
Judge Peck proceeded to say: " I am instructed by 
Col. O' Fallon to say to this very respectable com- 
pany of gentlemen, that he recognizes them all as 
his friends, and that they are authorized to go forth 
and enjoy themselves, and make merry at his expense 
at any place they choose." 

The crowd gave three cheers for O' Fallon, and 
went off down town, where they caroused, drank, 
and frolicked all night ; and it was reported at one 
time that they had " cleaned out" two groceries or 
drinking-houses, and for which it is said Col. O'Fal- 
lon had to pay a thousand dollars the next day. 

In closing this sketch, we maybe pardoned for one 
word more about Col. O'Fallon, a great and good 
man, to whom St. Louis owes much. Upon him nat- 
ure had been more lavish of her gifts than fortune, 
althouo'h the latter had been most bounteous. He 



O'FALLON'S CHARACTER. 149 

possessed one of the most acute and vigorous vuider- 
stan dings that any man was ever armed with. His 
quickness was not accompanied w ith the least temer- 
ity ; on the contrary, he was as sure as the slowest of 
mankind. But his nobleness of heart was far above 
all the qualities of his mind. It was said of Wash- 
ington that he was ^'tirst in war, first in peace, and 
first in the hearts of his countrymen." The same 
may be said of O' Fallon in connection with the good 
people of St. Louis. He was beyond all doubt the 
most open-handed and liberal man the city of St. 
Louis has ever produced ; the leader in every noble 
undertaldng, and the foremost and largest contributor 
in every public enterprise. He sprang to every busi- 
ness man's assistance without waiting to be called 
upon. He has done more to assist the merchants 
and business men of St. Louis than any man who 
ever lived in the town. These noble, generous, and 
disinterested acts of his were thrice Messed. He, 
when any of his friends were appointed to public of^ 
fice or station requiring bonds to be given, with secu- 
rity in the sum of three, or four, or ^ve hundred 
thousand dollars, did not wait to be asked, but 
would go immediately and say, ''I come to go on 
your bond as security; let me sign it." This 
he did with Marshall Brotherton, as treasurer of 



150 WILLIAM STOKES. 

St. Louis County, in the sum of half a million 
dollars ; and also for Isaac H. Sturgeon, as sub- 
treasurer of the United States at St. Louis. He 
had begun life in humble circumstances, and had 
faced without flinching the dark frowns of adver- 
sity, and shared and enjoyed the bright smiles 
of prosperity, without being depressed by the one 
or elated by the other. He was the rich man's 
friend, the poor man's benefactor, and the laboring 
man's counsellor, adviser, and assistant. Such a man, 
in any city or any community, is a blessing. Simple 
and unostentatious in his manners, he was always 
approachable, affable, and pleasant to the humblest 
citizen. 

In speaking of the portraits of individuals to 
ornament the new Merchants' Exchange, C Fallon's 
name has never been mentioned, although he himself 
was a merchant. He needs it not. The institutions 
that he has so lil:)ei*ally assisted to build up in this 
city will perpetuate bis name and fame so long as the 
Mississippi River laves these shores. The deep hold 
which O' Fallon had upon the heart's affections and 
feelings of the people of this great city is evinced 
by the institutions named in honor of hiin. Their 
colleges, their schools, their parks, their mills, their 
breweries, their distilleries, their streets, their taverns, 



DK. DAVID WALDO. 151 

their railroad depots and stations, etc., etc., all bear 
his name. 

How often, when he was alive, have I mentally 
quoted that line from Virgil, as applicable to him : — 

" O, fortiiiia senex!" 

He died beloved, honored, mourned, and re- 
spected by all. 

It is to be regretted that there has not been pub- 
lished a sketch, at least, of his life, that it might be a 
lesson of instruction and a noble example to every 
school-boy in the land. 



Dr. David Waldo was among the earliest settlers 
in the State, as well as one of her most distinguished 
and prominent men. His long and successful career 
entitles him to a passing notice. 

Dr. Waldo came to Missouri from Virginia, of 
which he was a native, — I think, more than half a 
century ago. For industry, perseverance, never- 
tiring energy and indomitable will, he had few if any 
superiors. He was possessed of a clear head and 
sound judgment, which enabled him to acquire a 
very handsome fortune ; and he was esteemed and 
looked upon by the community in which he lived as 



152 DR. DAVID WALDO. 

a man honest, honorable, and fan* in all his dealings, 
and he commanded the respect and friendship of all 
with whom he came in contact. 

In the year 1826, David Waldo, when very 
yonng, went to the pineries on the Gasconade Kiver, 
and engaged in the cntting and hanling of pine logs 
with his own hands, until he had accumulated enough 
to form a respectable raft of pine boards. He con- 
structed his raft of lumber, and went on board as 
commander ; and having hired a few hands, floated 
down the Gasconade, and into the dangerous and 
dark rolling Missouri, and down that stream into 
the Mississippi, and doAvn that river to St. Louis. 
He soo]i sold his lumber, for five hundred dollars, to 
Laveille & Morton, at that time extensive builders in 
St. Louis. 

In the winter of 1826, with this five hundred dol- 
lars. Dr. David Waldo, in company with his good 
friend William G. Owens, then clei'k of the Circuit 
Court of Franklin County (and who was murdered 
forty-four years ago, near the town of Washington, 
in Franklin County, Missouri), went to Lexington, 
Kentuckv, and attended a course of medical lectures 
at the Transylvania LTniversity, at the head of which 
was that eminent and distinguished man, Di*. Ben- 
jamin W. Dudley. LTpon the completion of this 



A HOLDER OF MANY OFFICES. 15B 

course he returned to his home in Gasconade County^ 
Missoui'i. 

In the year 1827, the Hon. William C. Carr, of 
St. Louis, was Circuit Court judge for five counties, 
comprising Gasconade, Franklin, Washington, Jef- 
ferson, and St. Louis. At the June term of the 
Circuit Court of Gasconade County, 1827, I first 
attended court, having just then been licensed to 
practice law. Then and there, for the first time, I 
saw and became acquainted with Dr. David Waldo, 
He was clerk of the Circuit Court of Gasconade 
County and ex-officio recorder of deeds for the 
county. He was also clerk of the County Court of 
Gasconade County, justice of the peace, acting as 
coroner and as deputy-sheriff, it is said, as well as 
postmaster. He held a commission, also, as major in 
the militia, and was a practising physician. The 
duties of all these oflSces David AYaldo attended to 
personally, and discharged Avith signal and distin- 
gnished ability. 

The county of Gasconade at that time included 
an immense territory, embracing the later counties 
of Osage, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, Wright, and 
Texas ; and on that account it was called by many 
of the inhabitants '' the State of Gasconade, — 
David Waldo, governor." In speaking o:f. the Doc- 



154 r>R. DAVID WALDO. 

tor, even to his face, veiy few of them saluted him 
as ' ' mister, " " doctor, " or " inaj or, ' ' — they all 
called him "Dave." 

At that time there were no public buildings in 
the county, nor was there any town, although an 
attempt had been made to lay off a town on a flat 
piece of ground on the Gasconade River, which was 
called Bartonville, in honor of the distinguished 
senator, David Barton, then in Congress ; but a rise 
in the river caused the whole surface of the proposed 
town to be covered by water to the depth of about 
ten feet, in consequence of which not a street was 
opened nor a single habitation ever erected on the pro- 
posed site. The court, consequently, was held at a 
farm-house about half a mile east of the Gascoiiade 
River. The house belonged to a man named Isaac 
Perkins, who had a wife whom everybody called 
"Aunt Beckie." She was a woman of immense 
size, — not tall, but very fleshy, — and must have 
weighed between four and Ave hundred pounds avoir- 
dupois. The accommodations for the court and all 
the attendants thereon consisted of one large hewed- 
log house, with one room, a kitchen, and some log 
stables ; so that all had to eat and sleep in the same 
room ; and after the table had l)een cleared, the judge 
would take a seat on one side of the room in one of the 



A MISSOURI COURT IN EARLY TIMES. 155 

old-fashioned split-bottomed chairs, and hold court. 
Here David Waldo made his home, being unmar- 
ried, and kept the public records of the county, 
and as a public functionary discharged the duties of 
the numerous offices which he filled, with great 
promptness and industry. 

''Aunt Beckie," assisted by her negro woman 
and one or two women who came to assist her on 
these trying occasions, prepared the meals, and at 
night the whole floor was covered with bed-quilts and 
coverlets, there being three standing bedsteads in the 
back end of the room. Many of the grand jurors, 
it is said, had to come a distance of one hundred and 
fifty miles to attend court, — ''from away upon 
Piney," as it was called, — and even beyond that. 
Some were compelled to seek lodgings around in the 
neighborhood, while others, again, had to resort to 
the stable-loft and barn for sleeping-apartments. 

"Aunt Beckie " became noted and distinguished, 
and as such is entitled to be recognized and spoken 
of historically. " Old Ike," her husband, was never 
thought of or named. "Aunt Beckie's" fame 
spread far and wide. Her place was known as 
' 'Aunt Beckie's," and it swallowed up the name of the 
county-seat. Mount Sterling, which was established 
some years afterward, and which was hardly ever 



156 DK. DAVID WALDO. 

mentioned and little known. ''Aunt Beckie," from 
her great size, was the source of great amusement 
and humorous wit on all sides. The following dis- 
tich will serve as a sample : — 

''If flesh be grass, as the good books say, 
Then old Aunt Beckie 's a load of hay." 

Little did I think then, when, in company with 
Judge Carr, for the first time my eyes gazed upon the 
bright, clear waters of the Gasconade Kiver, I should 
live to see, twenty-eight years afterwards, so many 
distinguished men of the State instantly killed, as 
here perished in the unfortunate " Gasconade dis- 
asxer. 

Ul3on the banks of that same " lonely river," far 
from human habitations, in the wild woods, where 
there were no houses into which, in that dread mo- 
ment, the bodies of the wounded, the dying, and the 
dead could be carried, and the last sad offices of Idnd- 
ness performed for those who had so suddenly shared 
the fate of humanity, tliis great calamity and horrid 
scene occurred. It was truly a mournful sight to see 
the mangled and torn bodies of those so lately joy- 
ous and full of life, l)rought out from the wrecks of 
the shattered and shivered Pacific Raih'oad cars and 
stretched upon the naked ground. The storm raged, 
and the rain poured down in torrents upon the in- 



THE GASCONADE DISASTER. 157 

animate forms. The blast moaned among the 
branches of the trees, stripped of all foliage, Hke 
some spirit of the air, whilst the livid flashes of light- 
ning did but add to the terror and consternation of 
that shocking catastrophe, all grim with death, all 
horrible in blood, — ''all of which I saw; part of 
which I was." 

It is not my purpose to write a history of Dr. 
Waldo, but merely to give a few reminiscences of an 
old and life-long friend, and some incidents connected 
with his earlier career and struggles in life. Dr. 
Waldo was a self-taught man, and had made himself, 
by close application and study, a flne English scholar. 
And afterwards, when he went to Santa Fe as a 
trader, he learned to speak and write the Spanish 
language fluently and well. In fact, the doctor 
throughout life seemed to have adopted and acted 
upon the maxim of lahor vincit omnia. 

The iidiabitants of Gasconade County, at the 
time spoken of, were nearly all frontier backwoods 
people, many of them squatters, with the same 
marked and noble characteristics of generous hos- 
pitality and obliging kindness that was always found 
at the threshold of every log-cabin in frontier life. 
They were immigrants mostly from Tennessee, Ken- 
tucky, Virginia, and North Carolina ; dressed mostly 



158 DK. DAVID WALDO. 

in homespun made np in the family. Many of them 
had even bronght their old spinning-wheels and 
cotton-cards with them from the States from which 
they moved. Bnt nnfortnnately many of these were 
nnable to read and write, and greatly wanting in 
edncation . 

Many of the letters which came to the post- 
office where Dr. Waldo was postmaster were family 
letters, which the recipients freqnently conld not 
read, and the doctor was compelled to read the 
letters to them ; and not infrequently he would be 
called upon to write answers, all of which he would 
do with his accustomed courtesy and kindness. 

There are many incidents, anecdotes, and stories, 
somewhat illustrating the times, manners, and habits 
of these people of more than half a century ago, 
which are well worth being i*epeated. 

At the commencement of the Circuit Court in 
Gasconade County, at the June term, 1827, there 
were present William C. Carr, judge ; David Waldo, 
clerk ; Robert P. Farris of St. Louis, and John F. 
Darby of St. Louis, members of the bar. An indi- 
vidual had been indicted for hog-stealing, and I had 
been engaged to defend liim. The jury were seated 
on some benches in the room. The evidence was 
clear against the defendant. The trial closed, and 



NOVEL LEGAL PKOCEEDINGS. 159 

the jury retired to the shade of a hickory tree hard 
by to consult and make up their verdict. They 
very soon came into court, having agreed on a 
verdict, and Avere called by the sheriff and counted 
by Clerk Waldo, to whom the verdict was delivered, 
and which found the defendant guilty. 

The defendant, who was out on bail, jumped the 
fence into a corn-field near the house, and attempted 
to run away. About a hundred men started after 
him yelUng, and shouting ''Ketch hiin," ''Ketch 
him." They caught him as he was about to leap the 
fence on the opposite side, and brought him back, 
when a motion for a new trial was made and over- 
ruled, and then the judge sentenced the prisoner to 
receive thirty-nine lashes on his bare back. As soon 
as the sentence was pronounced. Clerk Waldo called 
the sheriff to the book and administered an oath as 
follows : ' ' You do solemnly swear that you will well 
and truly execute the sentence of the court, and lay 
on the lashes to the best of your ability, so help you 
God." 

The unfortunate culprit was taken out into the 
yard, about twenty or thu'ty feet from the door 
where the court was held, his shirt was stripped off 
so as to expose his bare back, and his pantaloons tied 
very tight, with his suspenders, above the hips. His 



160 r>K. DAVID WALDO. 

arms were made to hug around a hickory tree m the 
yard, and his hands firmly tied fast. About two 
hundred spectators gathered in a circle around the 
2)arties, and the women all came out from the kitchen 
to see the performance. The sheriff pulled off his 
coat, rolled up his sleeves, and with all his might laid 
on the lashes with a cowhide whip. The blood was 
brought at almost every blow, and during the per- 
formance several men counted aloud the number of 
strokes. This unseemly and barbarous performance 
seemed to be greatly relished by many persons in the 
crowd, who, no doubt, considered this as one of the 
proud triumphs of advanced civilization in the State 
of Missouri. 

There was another incident in the Gasconade 
Circuit Court, when David Waldo was clerk, which 
was tliis : A tall man came into court, somewhat 
intoxicated. He looked around, and saw the judge 
sitting at one side of the room, when he exclaimed 
in a loud voice, and with a great oath, ''What! 
Do you call this a court? Where I came from, in 
Kentucky, a court had some respectability about it." 
Judge Carr, of course, had to maintain the dignity 
of the court. He had the offender brought before 
the court and fined two dollars, and sentenced to two 
hours' imprisonment. The sheriff had no jail in 



AN IMPKOVISED JAIL. 161 

which to confine the prisoner. He took him ont by 
the side of the house, and found out in the yard an 
old empty crate, in which queens ware had been 
packed, and which a man who had kept a store there 
for awhile had hauled from St. Louis. 

This old empty crate the sheriff took, and made 
the prisoner squat down. He turned the old crate 
over his head, and got some big, fat, heavy men to 
sit on it and keep it down ; and thus he kept his pris- 
oner in jail for two hours, the by-standers standing 
around, full of fun, and asking what kind of an 
animal it was, how much for the show, etc. 

Judge Carr was a pleasant, gentlemanly man^ 
always neatly dressed, and conducted himself with 
the utmost propriety, aiid certainly not in a manner 
calculated to give offence to any. But he gave 
offence to certain parties, and particularly to an old 
fellow by the name of Honsinger, because the 
judge, in accordance with the custom of the age, at 
that time wore ruffled shirts. The judge had given 
mortal offence to old Honsinger also by deciding a 
five-dollar shot-gun case against him, and Hon- 
singer was determined to be revenged upon him. 
Old Honsinger would get a crowd around him, under 
a tree or out by the stable, where he would make 

11 



162 DR. DAVID WALDO. 

rhymes and sing songs that he had made upon the 
judge, amidst the greatest uproar, shouts, and bois- 
terous laughter. He was the poet-laureate, at that 
time, of Gasconade County. 

Another noted character, who lived in Franklin 
County, but always attended Gasconade County Cir- 
cuit Court, was John Sullens. He could neither read 
nor write, but was possessed of great native wit. He 
made an affidavit for a continuance of a suit, which 
Mr. Clerk Waldo could not readily find when the 
papers were called for. At last Mr. "Waldo said, 
^'Here is the affida\it;" when ''old Jack," as he 
was called, and who was loud-spoken and boisterous, 
said quite loud, ''Davy, that ain't my affidavit." 
Waldo said, "How can you tell whether it is your 
affidavit or not? You can neither read nor write." 
"Yes," said "old Jack," "but I can always tell 
my mark. I always make a straight up-and-down 
mark, and then cross it at the top, in the middle, and 
at the bottom, so I can tell my mark from other peo- 
ple's marks. ^N'one of your fooling of me, Dave 
Waldo; because I'm a Jackson man. I go the 
whole hog for Jackson. I love Gen, Jackson, 
hekase as how he loves wimming and is chock-full 
of fight." 



RUSSELL FARNHAM. 163 

Russell Farnham was born in Massachusetts. He 
was an only son, and, when a young man, went out 
to the Pacific Ocean in the expedition sent out by 
John Jacob Astor to the mouth of the Columbia 
River. Mr. Astor sent out two expeditions, after the 
return of Lewis and Clark from the Pacific coast, — 
one by land, under the command of Wilson P. Hunt, 
up the Missouri River, and the other around Cape 
Horn, in the ill-fated ship Tonquin, under the 
command of Capt. Thorn. Russell Farnham went 
with the party in the vessel, around Cape Horn. 
Capt. Thorn lost his life and his vessel was de- 
stroyed soon after his arrival on the Pacific coast, 
as fully detailed by Washington Irving in his ''As- 
toria." 

In this work of Washington Irving, Russell Farn- 
ham is mentioned as having executed an Indian 
in the camp of some of Astor' s trapping and 
hunting parties, for stealing a silver cup belonging 
to some of the party, by climbing up a saphng, 
bending it over, tying a lasso around the neck of 
the savage and fastening it to the sapling, and let- 
ting the sapling straighten up again. The hanging 
of this Indian by the whites pi'oved to be a most un- 
fortunate affair to the trappers afterwards. 

Wilson P. Hunt, the chief in command of the 



164 KUSSELL FARNHAM. 

expedition, left Astoria and went np the coast. 
During his absence Mr. McDougal, the second in 
command, assumed authority and control of af- 
fairs at Astoria, and actually sold out to Mr. Mc- 
Tavish, of the British ]!^orth-West Company, who 
had come to the fort, all tiie furs and peltries, worth 
more than one hundred thousand dollars, for forty 
thousand dollars. When Mr. Hunt returned to the 
fort he was indignant at what had been done, as Mr. 
McDougal had no authority whatever to sell the 
property. It was too late, however, as the property 
had all been delivered, and was then in possession of 
the ^orth-West Company. In the meantime Capt. 
Black had arrived with his war- vessels, and entering 
the fort with his officers, " caused the British stand- 
ard to be erected, broke a bottle of wine, and declared, 
in a loud voice, that he took possession of the es- 
tablishment and of the country in the name of his 
Britannic Majesty, changing the name of Astoria to 
that of Fort George." 

When Mr. Hunt returned, the drafts of the ^orth- 
West Company had not yet been obtained. " With 
some difficulty he succeeded in getting possession of 
the papers. The bills or drafts were delivered with- 
out hesitation." These were sterling bills on London 
for about forty thousand dollars. 



A KEMARKABLE JOUKNEY. 165 

So soon as these bills had been obtamed by Mr. 
Hunt, he delivered them to Russell Farnham, with di- 
rections to proceed by way of St. Petersburg, in Rus- 
sia, so that they might be collected for the benefit of 
Mr. Astor. Accordingly, Mr. Farnham, with a small 
stock of provisions in a pack on his back, started on 
foot, and crossed the ice at Bhering's Straits into 
Kamtchatka, in the Russian dominions. From 
thence he made his way, on foot, through that in- 
hospitable country and severe cHmate, all the way up 
to St. Petersburg. In this perilous journey he en- 
dm^ed incredible sufferings, from hunger, exposure, 
and want. From dire necessity, he was forced to cut 
and eat the tops off his boots to sustain life. But 
having been blest with a robust and powerful consti- 
tution, which enabled him to meet and endure hard- 
ships, and an indomitable will and determination, 
whereby he was armed to overcome difficulties and 
dangers, he performed a feat which, for personal 
bravery, daring, and danger, has never been equalled 
by any one man in ancient or modern times. He did 
that which Ledyard, the great American traveller, 
acting under the instructions of Thomas Jefferson, 
had failed in twice, viz. : to come east from St. Peters- 
burg to the American continent. 

Russell Farnham, after reaching St. Petersburg, 



166 KUSSELL FAKNHAM. 

made his way to Paris, and from thence to ^ew York, 
where he delivered the drafts so intrusted to his care, 
to John Jacob Astor. 

After his return to the United States, Farnham 
was employed by Mr. Astor in the fur trade up the 
lakes. Wliile in the pursuit of this lucrative trade, 
the war with Great Britain still continuing, he was 
arrested as a British spy and taken to Prairie du 
Chien, on the Mississippi, and brought to St. Louis 
as a prisoner, to be tried for his life. On arriving at 
St. Louis he met with many friends, who were able to 
prove his identity, and he was released. 

Russell Farnham, still a member of the American 
Fur Company, of which John Jacob Astor, of ^ew 
York, was the mainspring and support, took up his 
residence in St. Louis in the year 1826. In St. 
Louis he married Miss Susan Bosseron, daughter of 
Charles Bosseron, one of the original French families 
of the place, and one of great respectability, wealth, 
and standing. Pussell Farnham died of cholera, in 
St. Louis, on the twenty-third day of October, 1832, 
surviving only two hours after having been attacked 
with that then new and fatal disease. He left a 
widow, and one child only, who lived but a few years 
after the death of the husband and father, both 
dying of consumption. 



JAMES HAWKINS PECK. 167 

Russell Farnham was a man of ordinary size, well- 
set, and of powerful frame. He was of a most 
companionable, social, and agreeable disposition. 
This sketch is made by one who had a personal 
knowledge of the man, who was on terms of social 
friendship and intimacy with him, and who had 
learned his history from Wilson P. Hunt and others 
who had been associated with him. 



James Hawkins Peck was born in the eastern 
part of Tennessee, upon the confines of ISTorth Caro- 
lina. The story goes that he came of a very tall 
family, some of his brothers being as high as six and 
a half and seven feet in height, whilst James was 
considered so small as to be called the " runt " of the 
family ; notwithstanding, wdien he was grown, he 
was a fine-looking man of more than six feet in 
height. And on this account it was that, when he 
was a boy, his good, kind mother, seeing he was so 
little, and smaller than the other boys, thought he 
would not be able to make a living by working on a 
farm, and determined to send him to school, give him 
an education, and make a lawyer of him. 

James H. Peck came to St. Louis and established 



168 JAMES HAWKINS PECK. 

himself as a lawyer in the year 1818. In the year 
1819 Col. Richard M. Johnson and James Johnson 
had a contract with the government of the United 
States for transporting supplies up the Missouri 
River to Council Bluffs. When they reached St. 
Louis, William M. O'Hara, at that time at the head 
of the Bank of St. Louis, instituted suit against the 
Johnsons, upon some alleged indehtedness due to the 
Bank of St. Louis, amounting to thirty or forty 
thousand dollai's. The claim grew out of some trans- 
actions with some "independent banks" of Ken- 
tucky, in which it was charged the Johnsons were 
concerned. James H. Peck was retained by the 
defendants as their counsel, all the other prominent 
lawyers having been retained and employed by the 
plaintiff. 

The suit was continued till the next year (1820), 
when the State Constitution was formed, when by 
ordinance it was transferred from the Territorial to 
the State courts. But Missouri was not admitted 
into the Union until after Mr. Clay's compromise 
act and the ' ' solemn public act ' ' of the Legislature 
had been passed, when President Monroe admitted 
the State by proclamation. 

Of coui-se, there could be no Federal appointments 
made in the State until she had been legally admitted 



APPOINTED DISTRICT JUDGE. 169 

into the Union. So soon as Missouri was admitted 
as a member of the Federal Union, and a District 
Court of the United States created by law for Mis- 
souri, the counsel for the defendants in the suit so 
pending against the Johnsons in the St. Louis Cir- 
cuit Court took the proper steps for transferring 
the suit from the State court to the United States 
District Court for Missoui'i, on the ground that the 
defendants, the Johnsons, were citizens of the State 
of Kentucky. 

The struggle for the Federal appointments com- 
menced with the admission of Missouri. Amongst 
the rest, James H. Peck made application for the 
appointment of United States district judge for the 
Missouri District. James H. Peck had a fast friend 
in Col. Pichard M. Johnson, then a member of 
Congress from Kentucky. He was popular and 
influential with the administration. He claimed the 
glory of having killed Tecumseh, and could point 
with pride to the bullet-holes in his red-breasted vest, 
which he still wore, through which the leaden bullets 
had passed into his body when in the defence of 
his country. James H. Peck received the appoint- 
ment. He was also supported for the position by 
David Barton, then a senator in Congress from Mis- 
souri, in return for which Judge Peck appointed 



170 JAMES HAWKINS PECK. 

Isaac Barton, the brother of David Barton, clerk of 
United States District Court for the Missouri Dis- 
trict. 

After Judge Peck was appointed United States 
district judge, and the case of the Bank of St. Louis 
against the Johnsons came up, in which he had been 
counsel for the defendants, of course he could not 
sit in the case or try the cause ; and on the applica- 
tion of the defendants, who had employed other 
counsel, the case wa^ transferred to the United 
States Circuit Court for the Kentucky District, at 
Fi'ankfort. In the meantime most of the parties 
who had originally been engaged in prosecuting the 
suit were broken up, and died insolvent, so that the 
suit at Frankfort failed for want of prosecution. 

Congress passed an act, in 1824, giving the United 
States District Court for the Missouri District juris- 
diction and authority to confirm the titles to the 
French and Spanish grants in Missouri by a de- 
cree of court. Judge Peck was a tall, fine-looking 
man, over six feet in height. He was pompous in 
his language, manner, and carriage. He had con- 
ceived a notion that if he exposed his eyes to the 
light he would become blind. Whenever, there- 
fore, he was about to leave his room to come out 
in the face of open day, he had a large white 



HIS SINGULAR APPEARANCE IN COURT. 171 

handkerchief bound around his eyes, so that he 
could not see at all : then his servant would lead 
him to his carriage, drive him to the court-room, 
assist him out, lead him into the court-room, and 
assist him up on to the bench, where he would take 
his seat and hear and try causes, perfectly blind- 
folded, — the clerk of the court and the lawyers 
reading such papers and law-books as might be 
needed in the case. It was a most singular and 
striking case to see a judge on the bench, holding- 
court and dispensing justice, with a large white 
handkerchief tied around his head. 

The court was held in an old French house on 
the south-west corner of Second and Walnut Streets, 
and the room was densely packed with French and 
Spanish land-claimants and their attorneys. Henvy 
Dodge, afterwards United States senator from Wis- 
consin, was United States marshal. As soon as 
the marshal had in due form opened the court by 
proclamation. Judge Peck, in aloud voice, said: 
' ' If there is any gentleman in the court acquainted 
with the modus ojyerandi of making these grants of 
lands by the French and Spanish authorities, the 
court will be obliged to him to explain the matter. 
It might be of service to the court in enabling it 
to do justice to the claimants and to the govern- 



172 JAMES HAWKINS PECK. 

ment." Thereupon Judge John B. C. Lucas, who 
had been a commissioner appointed by the govern- 
ment to pass upon these French and Spanish claims, 
and who had held the position of chief justice of 
the Superior Court of the Territory of Missouri, 
rose to address the court. He spoke for some 
time, in quite an animated tone and manner, in 
response to the invitation from the bench ; when 
Luke E. Lawless, an Irishman and a member of 
the bar, arose in the court and, interrupting Judge 
Lucas, said: ''May it please the court, so far as 
my clients are concerned, I most respectfully pro- 
test against Judge Lucas saying anything on the 
subject of these French and Spanish claims in this 
court. Judge Lucas, if your Honor please, is not a 
licensed attorney of this court." 

Judge Lucas paused, and turned upon Lawless a 
most scornful look of contempt, his eyes as big as 
dollars. [Lawless had been the second of Col. 
Benton when he killed Charles Lucas, son of Judge 
Lucas, in the duel ; and Judge Lucas cherished a 
deep-seated hatred for him.] Then, turning to the 
court with a most graceful bow, he said: ''If the 
court please, I am licensed. I am licensed by the 
Grod of Heaven ; He has given me a head to judge 
and determine, and a tongue to speak and explain." 



JUDGE LUCAS KEPLIES TO LAWLESS. 173 

Judge Lucas went on to state that he had received a 
finished education in the best schools in France, 
where he was born ; that he had studied the civil law 
in the best institutions in that country ; that he had 
come to this country, and had learned and made 
himself familiar with the common law ; that he had 
been made judge in the great State of Pennsylvania, 
where he had administered that law, and that he had 
been a member of Congress from that State. 

One reason, he said, why the gentleman did not 
think him (Lucas) qualified to practice law was, per- 
haps, the fact that when he (Lawless) applied for a 
license to practice law here, it was his (Lucas's) duty, 
as chief justice of the Superior Court of the Territor}^, 
with his two associate judges, to examine him, to see 
whether or not he was qualified to practice law, and 
that on that occasion, he well recollected, he thought 
that he might be licensed, when his two associate 
judges did not think him qualified ; and as the 
majority of the court were against him, it was at his 
(Lucas's) request that the other judges yielded, and 
agreed that he might be licensed. 

Again bowing to the court, Judge Lucas said : 
''May it please the court, I did not come to this 
country as a fugitive and an outcast from my native 
land. I came as a scholar and a gentleman, upon 
the invitation of Dr. Franklin." 



ITtt JAMES HAWKINS PECK. 

Lawless had fled from Ireland to keep from being 
hanged, as having been connected with the Irish 
rebellion in 1798. / 

It was in this same conrt that Jndge Peck fined 
and imprisoned Lnke E. Lawless for contempt of 
court. Lawless having reviewed and ci'iticised an 
opinion delivered by Judge Peck, in the newspapers ; 
and for which Lawless had Judge Peck impeached, 
and tried before the United States Senate. The 
judge was acquitted, — mainly, it was said, through 
the eloquence of William Wirt. 

Judge Peck never was married. He was an 
amiable man. He made love to a certain lady in St. 
Louis, to whom another gentleman was also paying 
attention, and meeting with his competitor in the 
street, they had a fight about her. The lady married 
Judge Peck's opponent. The story obtained that 
when John Simonds, the United States deputy- 
marshal, was taking Lawless to jail on the commit- 
ment for contempt, and Lawless had heaped upon 
Judge Peck all the anathemas and curses he could 
think of, at last he said, ''I wish the scoundrel 

had married Mrs. ," as the severest curse he 

could wish him, she was said to have led the man 
she did marry such an unhappy life. 



WILLIAM H. JONES. 175 

In the year 1828 or 1829 there was a firm m St. 
Louis composed of Alexander Scott and William K. 
Rule. Old Alexander Scott subsequently followed 
steamboating, and was one of the finest captains that 
was ever on the river ; he afterwards failed in busi- 
ness, and went to Pittsburg. He died some years 
ago, and left a very handsome fortune. William K. 
Rule died in St. Louis, I think, about the year 1876. 
At that day there was no United States Bank here, 
and it was very difiicult, when the merchants wanted 
to make remittances to Philadelphia or N^ew York, to 
get exchange. The only way to remit money was 
to send bank-notes in packages, by mail or private 
hands. Scott & Rule ordered a clerk of theirs to 
send $4,000 in money to Philadelphia, and their clerk 
bundled up the package of bank-notes and gave it to 
a man named William H. Jones, a dry-goods mer- 
chant doing business in St. Louis, to take to Phila- 
delphia. Jones took the package and delivered it to 
the parties to whom it was directed in Philadelphia, 
and then went out and purchased, for his own account, 
sixty thousand dollars' worth of goods to ship to his 
store in St. Louis ; and after he had done that, the 
report came out that the package, instead of con- 
taining bank-notes, as was marked on it, was filled 
with old newspapers. Jones was so horrified and 



176 HAMILTON ROWAN GAMBLE. 

mortified at it that he committed suicide, by shoot- 
ing himself instantly, in the city of Philadelphia. He 
had never taken the money, bnt his honor was too 
keen and sensitive to endure even suspicion. John 
O' Fallon administered on his estate. It was under- 
stood, and generally believed, that Scott & Rule's 
clerk stole the money and filled the bundle with old 
newspapers. 



In the month of October, 1830, Hamilton Rowan 
Gamble (at that time prosecuting attorney in Judge 
William C. Carr's judicial district, of which Gascon- 
ade County was a part), with myself as his com- 
panion, started from St. Louis to attend Circuit 
Court. The journey had to be made on horseback, 
and generally took about three days. The second 
day out we reached Union, the then and present 
county-seat of Franklin County, about three o'clock 
in the afternoon, where we took dinner. The old 
road used to run in a north-westerly direction from 
Union to IN^ewport, the former and first county-seat 
of Franklin County, and thence in a south-westerly 
direction to the county-seat of Gasconade County, at 
Mount Sterling. A new road had at that time been 



A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. , 177 

laid out, rather in a direct line, running from Union 
to Mount Sterling, saving in the distance several 
miles in cutting off the elbow made in the bend by 
way of ^Newport. This new road consisted merely 
of blazes and notches on the trees, made with an 
axe, to indicate the location of the road, the brush 
and logs being thrown out of the proposed pass-way. 
So there was no beaten track, as yet, made by travel 
in the proposed highway ; the leaves from the trees 
having just then fallen, covered the surface in like 
manner as any other part of the woods. 

After we had ridden about ten miles, we found 
night closing around us fast ; and as we went down 
into the bottom, in the thick timber on the river Boeuf , 
it became quite dark. As we ascended the hills on 
the other side of the stream, we entered a glade or 
bald knob where there was no timber, — a sort of small 
prairie covered with grass, without any beaten track. 
As we progressed, the timber became agam quite 
thick. We were about twenty-five miles east of our 
place of destination, and there was no human habita- 
tion near. Mr. Gamble asked what we should do. 
I ventured to suggest that we could take the north 
star as a guide, and my impression was that if we 
could go north through the woods for about seven 
miles, we would probably fall into the [N^ewport; 

12 



178 HAMILTON ROWAN GAMBLE. 

road leading to Gasconade, and by that means we 
might find some liouse. Mr. Gamble approved of 
the proposition, and desired me to lead the way. 
"We started in a direct line due north, as indicated by 
the star, and went down one of the steepest hills pos- 
sible for a hoi'se to travel. When we reached the 
bottom of the ravine, there was such a thick, matted 
undergrowth, that it was impossible for a man to 
ride through it. The darkness was so dense down in 
the bottom as to become almost visible, and the un- 
dergrowth was a perfect tangle. Mr. Gamble got 
unhorsed in his efforts to force the animal into the 
brush, but he held on to the reins and retained pos- 
session of the animal. Then my learned senior 
counsellor remarked that we were ' ' in a worse fix 
than ever. We are down in the hollow, in the 
thicket, without any means of getting away." The 
Gasconade prosecuting attorney mounted his horse 
again, and as we could not go forward, I volunteered 
to pilot him back to the top of the ridge from whence 
we had descended. 

My worthy friend had not then joined the Presby- 
terian Church, and denounced Gasconade County, 
with some pretty heavy oaths, as an ''outlandish, 
miserable, backwoods place." When we reached 
the top of the hill the star-hght was brighter, but 



KINDLING A FIRE FROM A FLINT. 179 

not bright enough to travel by. Having ridden my 
horse to a tree, I felt with my hands for the place 
where the axeman had blazed the way through to 
designate the road, and informed Mr. Gamble, "We 
are on the track again, for I feel the blaze on the 
tree with my hand." ''Well, now," said the coun- 
sellor, ''we will stay here all night; and if we only 
had some fire it would be more comfortable." I 
said to him, "We will get some fire ; there are plenty 
of flint rocks here on the ground nnder our feet, with 
which we can strike fire." Having dismounted and 
taken off the saddles from the horses, the animals 
were tied to some saplings. The leaves were dry, 
and by feeling around on the ground we could pick 
up flint rocks. Taking up the stirrup-iron of my 
saddle, and striking it against a flint, I could make 
the sparks of fire fly, but they would not catch in 
the dry leaves. 

Mr. Gamble had been over into Illinois, in the 
American Bottom, a few days before, shooting ducks, 
and by accident had a wad of tow in his vest 
pocket. He placed this dry piece of tow on a flint 
rock, as if it had been a piece of spunk, and using his 
pocket-knife, he struck fire. There being plenty of 
dead wood and dry limbs of trees lying around, we 
very soon had a comfortable fire ; and using our sad- 



180 , THOMAS HART BENTON. 

dies as pillows, we spent the night not uncomfort- 
ably, and the next morning rode twenty-five miles to 
the place of holding court, without finding a human 
habitation until we came to the place of holding- 
court. 



A brief notice of Thomas Hart Benton is proper. 
We shall give some anecdotes and incidents illustrat- 
ing some traits and characteristics of the man. 

He came to St. Louis, from Tennessee, in the 
year 1816. The next year (1817) he killed Charles 
Lucas, on Bloody Island, in a duel. Benton went up 
to vote at a general election ; Lucas challenged his 
vote ; Benton denounced him on the s])ot as a scoun- 
drel and a pnppy. Lucas challenged him. They 
went over to the island just at sunrise, and fought. 
The ball from Benton's pistol cut one of the veins in 
Lucas's neck, and he fell. The seconds reported 
him unable to stand a second fire. Benton insisted 
that they should meet again as soon as Lucas got 
well. The bullet from Lucas's pistol merely grazed 
Benton's leg. After three months' nursing and care, 
Lucas got well. They again met at sunrise, on the 
island, in mortal combat. They exchanged shots. 
Benton shot Lucas in the left breast ; he fell, and 



HIS OPPOSITION TO RAILROADS. 181 

exj^ired in about twenty minutes. Before dying, he 
called Benton to him, gave him his hand, and told 
him he forgave him. Lucas never touched Benton 
with his shot. Both pistols were fired so simultane- 
ously that the people on the shore, who heard the 
report, thought there had been but one shot. 

For an account of Benton's fight for the first 
election to the United States Senate, the reader is 
referred to page 31, where it is given in connection 
with a sketch of David Barton. 

Col. Benton, for more than ten years after the first 
agitation on the subject of railroads in Missouri, 
opposed them. As a member of the Legislature of 
Missouri, in 1838-9, I introduced bills and reports 
for the construction of railroads ; they were voted 

■V 

down by the Democratic party, of which Col. Benton 
was the acknowledged head. In returning from 
Washington City, in the year 1839, he landed at 
Cape Girardeau, and made a most effective speech 
against railroads. Amongst other things, he said: 
" Ever since the day when Gen. Jackson vetoed the 
Lexington and Maysville Road bill, internal improve- 
ment by the general government was no longer to be 
considered as among the teachings and doctrines of 
the Democratic party. It is," said he, '^the old. 



182 THOMAS HAKT BE^ON. 

antiquated, obsolete, and exploded doctrine of Henry 
Clay's 'American system.' Look at Illinois, where 
Whig rule obtained for awhile, overwhelmed in debt, 
unable to pay the interest on her bonds, sir. Look 
at Missouri, a State free of debt, — a State governed 
by the Democracy. Ah ! how I do like those Greek 
words, demos hratea^ — demos ^ the people ; hratea^ 
to govern." 

Ten years afterwards, when the people of St. 
Louis called a convention, — in October, 1849, — to 
take action toward projecting and building a railroad 
from the Mississippi River to San Francisco, Col. 
Benton attended and took part in the proceedings. 
Delegates to the meeting had been invited from all 
the States. Some days before the meeting of the 
convention, I took the invitation to Col. Benton and 
delivered it to him in person. 

I found him at his residence, at Col. Brant's, 
on Washington Avenue, where he always made his 
home when he came to St. Louis, — Col. Brant 
having married his niece. He received me most 
cordially. I said to him: ''Col. Benton, we expect 
you to aid us in this matter. St. Louis, from her 
central position, is entitled to have the road start 
from here. We shall have opposition," said I, 
"and much to contend with. Douglas is striving 



his: OPINION OF DOUGLAS. 183 

hard for the presidency, and he will try to have the 
Pacific Railroad start from Chicago instead of St. 
Louis, run through Iowa, and give us the ' go-by.' 
And should Douglas succeed in his presidential 
aspirations, it will give him additional powder and 
influence." 

Col. Benton replied: '^I shall be there, sir; I 
shall attend the convention, and advocate the build- 
ing of the road from St. Louis to San Francisco. 
Douglas never can be president, sir. 'No, sir; 
Douglas never can be president, sir. His legs are 
too short, sir. His coat, like a cow's tail, hangs too 
near the ground, sir." Col. Benton did attend the 
convention, and made a splendid speech, for which 
he had a statue erected to him in Lafayette Park, in 
St. Louis. The late Sidney Breese, formerly United 
States senator from Illinois, just before his death, 
used to say that when he was laboring in the Amei'i- 
can Senate to have a road built by the government 
from the Mississippi Piver to the Pacific, the most 
determined and strongest opposition to the measure 
came from Col. Benton, who now had a monumental 
statue erected in his honor for advocating the meas- 
ure at last. 

We shall add some anecdotes illustrating the life 
and character of the distinguished senator. In the 



184 THOMAS HAKT BENTON. 

year 1849 he went to Penyville, Perry Comity, Mis- 
souri, to make a speech. The court-house was 
crowded. '' Citizens," said he, " no man since the 
days of Cicero has heen abused as has been Benton. 
"What Cicero was to Catihne, the Roman conspira- 
tor, Benton has been to John Caldwell Calhoun, the 
South Carolina nulhfier. Cicero fulminating his 
philippics against Catiline in the Roman forum ; Ben- 
ton denouncing John Caldwell Calhoun on the floor 
of the American Senate. Cicero against Catiline; 
Benton against Calhoun." 

When he had finished his address, and came out 
into the court-house yard, I went up to him and said, 
" Colonel, I believe you have made an impression on 
these people." ''Always the case," said he, " always 
the case, sir. JN'obody opposes Benton but a few 
black-jack prairie lawyers ; fellows who aspire to the 
ambition of cheating some honest farmer out of a 
heifer in a suit before a justice of the peace, sir, — 
these are the only opponents of Benton. Benton and 
the people, Benton and Democracy, are one and the 
same, sir; synonymous terms, sir, — synonymous 
terms, sir." 

On another occasion he said, in a public speech 
(it is proper to remark that in addressing assembhes 
of the people he never used the Avords ' ' f ellow-citi- 



A PARALLEL CASE. 185 

zens," and hardly ever used the personal pronoun 
^' I," but was accustomed to speak of hhnself m the 
thud person, as Benton) : " Citizens, I have been 
dogged all over the State by such men as Claud 
Jones and Jim Birch. [Jones was State senator, 
and Birch supreme judge of the State.] Pericles 
was once so dogged. He called a servant, made 
him light a lamp, and show the man Avho had dogged 
liim to his own gate the way home. But it could 
not be expected of me, citizens, that I should ask 
any servant of mine, either white or black, or any 
free negro, to perform an office of such humihating 
degradation as gallant home such men as Claud Jones 
and Jim Birch; and that with a lamp, citizens, that 
passers by might see what kind of company my ser- 
vants kept." 

Again: He made a speech at Boonville. '' Citi- 
zens," he said, " when I went to Fayette, in Howard 
County, the other day, to address the people, Claib. 
Jackson, old Dr. Lowry, and the whole faction had 
given out that I should not speak there. When the 
time came to fulfil my appointment, I walked up 
into the College Hall and commenced my address to 
the large assembly of people collected to hear me ; 
and I had not spoken ten minutes before Claib. Jack- 



186 THOMAS HART BENTON. 

son, old Dr. Lowiy, and the whole faction marched 
m, and took their seats as modestly as a parcel of 
disreputable characters at a baptizing." 

After he had been defeated for the Senate, he be- 
came a candidate for Congress in the St. Louis dis- 
trict, and was elected. Riding out into the country, 
he came to where some railroad men were at work. 
As Col. Benton came up to where the men were dig- 
ging, he stopped his buggy, and said, '' This is what 
I call honest labor. This is what I call a man earn- 
ing his living by the sweat of his brow, l^o cheat, 
no trickery in this." The Irish all dropped their 
picks and shovels, and gathered around him. " My 
friends," said he, ''have you a spring hard by?" 
Yes, said his hearers, there is one close by. " Cold 
water, cold water," said he, ''is the poor man's 
beverage, the honest man's drink, the laboring man's 
potation. Temperate all my life ; but then in these 
piping-hot days in July it is necessary to use a little 
caution, to guard against being sun-struck ; there- 
fore I've brought a bottle of brandy along." The 
bottle was produced, and the laborers partook of its 
contents. One of them said, "And who will we be 
after having the honor of drinking with? " " Col. 
Benton. There is but one Col. Benton," was the 



NO NEWS TO HIM. 187 

reply. " Och, by the powers ! Jemmy, here's the moii 
we've all bm wanting to see, and, be jabers, here he 
is now." 

In canvassing the State, Col. Benton went to Co- 
lumbia, and spoke there. The Hon. James S. Rol- 
1ms invited him to his house. The next mornino: 
Mr. Rollins arose early, and got the newspaper giving 
an account of Col. Benton's speech. He was so 
much pleased with it that he thought it would be 
gratifying to his distinguished guest to let him know 
what had been said in the local paper about his ad- 
dress. Mr. Rollins took the paper and went up- 
stairs to Col. Benton's room. After rapping at the 
door, and being invited in, Mr. Rollins in most ap- 
propriate and courteous terms apologized to his guest, 
who was still in bed, and explained to Col. Benton 
the desire he had to show him the complimentary and 
flattering account given of his speech. " Does it do 
justice to Benton?" said the great man. ''Yes," 
said Mr. Rollins, " I think it does you most full and 
ample justice." " I know all about it, sir; I wrote 
it myself, sir." 

Col. Benton had a high compliment paid to him 
in the United States Senate by Mr. Webster, who 
said on one occasion, that " whenever the senator 
from Missouri had investigated any subject, and 



188 SPENCER PETTIS. 

made a report upon it, he did it with so much abihty, 
and such a deep research, that he (Mr. Webster) was 
always edified, instructed, and improved b}^ that sen- 
ator's reports." 

CoL Benton was a remarkable man. It is not 
saying too much, perhaps, to say he was the most 
striking figure, in personal appearance, that ever sat 
in the United States Senate. His fine face and per- 
sonal appearance, with his neat dress, drew upon 
him the eyes of all strangers on entering the Senate 
Chamber, and every one inquired immediately who he 
was. 



Spencer Pettis was a young man from Culpepper 
County, Virginia. He came to St. Louis about 

1824, and established himself as a lawyer. At that 
time the governor of the State had the appointment, 
by law, of a secretar}^ of state and treasurer, and 
all of the other executive officers of the State gov- 
ernment. When Frederick Bates died, in the year 

1825, there was a special election for the office of 
governor (Frederick Bates was the second governor 
of the State, and died in less than a year after he 
had been inaugurated), and the candidates to fill 
the place were William C. Carr, Judge David Todd, 



ANNOUNCING HIMSELF AS A CANDIDATE. 189 

and John Miller. John Miller was elected, and 
appointed Spencer Pettis secretary of state. The 
State government had in the meantime been removed 
from St. Charles to Jefferson City ; the State Honse 
had jnst been partially completed, and there was 
barely room enongh for the governor and the State 
officers. Spencer Pettis, while he was secretary of 
state, sent commissions to all justices of the peace 
and County Court judges, and other State officers, 
and he used to say at the end of every letter trans- 
mitting these documents, ''Please say that I am a 
candidate for Congress." He was the Democratic 
candidate for Congress against Edwai'd Bates, who 
had beaten John Scott in the year 1826, and at the 
next election Pettis defeated Bates. That was in the 
year 1828. 

Maj . Thomas Biddle had married the daughter of 
John Mullanphy, a very rich man residing in St. 
Louis. Gen. Jackson, as president of the United 
States, had made war upon the United States Bank 
and ultimately broke it down, and prevented it from 
being re-chartered. Spencer Pettis, in 1830, became 
a candidate for re-election to Congress, being a 
Jackson man, of course. Maj. Biddle, although a 
paymaster in the United States arm}^, had a great 
fondness for politics, and wanted to be elected United 



190 , ' SPENCER PETTIS. 

States senator. Possessed of ample wealth, he 
wanted to gratify his ambition by figuring on the 
floor of Congress. But his friends all told him that 
as lono- as he was an oflicer in the United States 
army, holding a commission as paymaster, he could 
not enter the political arena with any prospects of 
success. Biddle, however, began to write various 
articles abusing Spencer Pettis, ridiculing his claims 
as a candidate for Congress, and speaking contempt- 
uously of him. I recollect, in one of his articles he 
stigmatized him as a dish of skimmed milk. Pettis 
replied with a good deal of spirit to Biddle' s articles, 
and Biddle, one evening, only a few days before the 
election, came down to the City Hotel, where Pettis 
stayed, and lay in wait for him. Pettis, however, had 
gone to the lower end of the town electioneering, in 
company with a man named James ^ei\. Maj. Bid- 
dle waited around the hotel for some time, but finally 
went away without seeing him. The next morning 
Biddle started down town to market ; he had his negro 
man with him. It was very early in the morning, and 
when he came to the City Hotel, which was then 
and is now located on Vine and Third Streets, the 
hotel was just being opened, and the servants were 
beginning to clean up the rooms. When Biddle 
came up, he asked one of the servants to go up and 



AN EXCITING FRACAS. 191 

tell Mr. Pettis that there was a gentleman do\\ai- 
stairs who wanted to see him. The servant went up, 
and when he came back, said to Maj. Biddle that Mr. 
Pettis told him to go away, that he didn't want to 
be disturbed. Mr. Pettis, it appeared, had been up 
very late the night previous, and when he went to 
bed the mosquitoes annoyed him excessively, as he 
had no bar, and in order to get clear of the mosqui- 
toes he had gone out into the hall, where there was a 
draught. Maj. Biddle, as soon as the servant came 
back with the message that Mr. Pettis would not be 
disturbed, asked the servant to show him to Pettis's 
room. The servant started for the room, and Maj. 
Biddle followed. In going upstairs they found Pettis 
lying in the hall, and Biddle at once drew a cowhide, 
and, without any explanation, commenced cowhiding 
him. There was at once a tremendous uproar and 
great disturbance all over the house, and cries of 
murder, shrieking and screaming of women through- 
out the hotel. At last Pettis succeeded in getting a 
sword-cane, and began to lunge and stab at Biddle, 
when the latter retreated and made his way out into 
the street. In the morning some parties went up 
before Peter Ferguson, a justice of the peace, and 
made affidavit, and had Maj. Biddle arrested for 
assault with intent to kill. Mr. Pettis was present 



192 SPENCER PETTIS. 

and testified. I was also present as a spectator, and 
as a personal friend of Maj. Biddle. Justice Fergu- 
son bound Maj. Biddle over to keep the peace, and 
to appear before the Circuit Court and answer to an 
indictment, if one should be found ; and Mr. Mullan- 
phy, his father-in-law, w^ent on his bail-bond. A 
few days after, the election came off, and Mr. Pettis 
was re-elected to Congress triumphantly. Maj. 
Biddle went up to Prairie du Chien to pay off the 
United States troops, and while he was gone Spencer 
Pettis went down to Ste. Genevieve to consult with 
Dr. Lewis F. Lynn, a political friend, and at that 
time a very prominent man in the State. When he 
came back he went to see Martin Thomas, an old 
United States officer and formerly captain in the 
United States army. Capt. Thomas was a Whig in 
politics, and Mr. Pettis was a Jackson man. Capt. 
Thomas took him in charge, for the purpose of 
instructing him and training him how to shoot accu- 
i-ately. At that time there was a grove of bushes 
and trees where Broadway now is, in the vicinity of 
what is known as the '^ Rocky Branch" Creek. 
When Maj. Biddle came back from Prairie du Chien, 
Capt. Thomas carried to Maj. Biddle a challenge 
from Spencer Pettis. Maj. Biddle sent word by a 
servant to Thomas that it would receive his atten- 



PRELIMINARIES OF THE "CODE." 193 

tion. Maj. Biddle then went to Maj. Ben. O'Fallon, 
a brother of John O'Fallon, and who had been an 
officer m the United States army, as one well 
acquainted with the duelling code, to be his second. 
Ben. O'Fallon, as Maj. Biddle's second, took the 
answer to Capt. Thomas, as the second of Spencer 
Pettis. As Biddle was the challenged party, it was 
said in his behalf, or rather it was alleged and 
set up as a claim in his behalf, that as he was 
near-sighted, and could not see far, the distance 
must be reduced to, and not exceed, five feet. Mr. 
Pettis, as the challenging party, agreed to the dis- 
tance of five feet. This was in the month of Au- 
gust, 1831, and for several days previous to the 
duel both parties were engaged in practising with 
their weapons. The expected event was open and 
notorious, and talked of about town vdth as little 
reserve, and with as much openness, as would have 
been an approaching Fourth of July celebration. 
On the day appointed for the meeting, Maj. Biddle 
and his party — his second, Ben. O'Fallon, and 
Dr. Hardage Lane, his surgeon — went across from 
the main shore at the upper end of St. Louis to 
Bloody Island, in the Mississippi Piver. Spencer 
Pettis and his party followed soon afterwards, start- 
ing from a point about three squares below where 

13 



194 SPENCER PETTIS. 

the other party had crossed. The whole towii was 
assembled to see them depart. There were several 
thousand people on the levee, at the windows, and 
on the tops of the houses facmg the river. Old 
Mr. Mullanphy, the father-in-law of Maj. Biddle, 
sat on his old roan mare in the midst of the great 
crowd on the levee. At last there was a report of 
a pistol-shot, — both pistols fired so simultaneously 
that it seemed as if there was but one shot. Di- 
rectly afterwards a servant was seen to run out of 
the bushes to the bank of the river, jump into a 
skiff, and start to cross the river. As the skiff 
neai-ed the shore near Washington Avenue, a thou- 
sand voices cried out, ''What is the result?" and 
the party in the sldff shouted, ' ' Both mortally 
wounded ; I am coming back to get bedding and 
blankets." The bedding and blankets were obtained 
and carried across to the island, with more skiffs 
and men to assist. Maj. Biddle and his friends 
were brought back, a crowd of about three thou- 
sand people following him to his house. 

Immediately afterwards Spencer Pettis was 
brought over, and taken to a house on Main Street, 
one square north of Washington Avenue, that then 
belonged to Maj. Brant. Col. Benton, with others, 
met Pettis at the landing, and fanned him. Dr. 



THE SCENE AT THE DUEL. 195 

Hardage Lane told me that before the duel came 
off he saw that Maj. Biddle was greatly distressed, 
despondent, and depressed. A little sapling, cnt 
half-way throngh a foot from the ground, had been 
bent over to make a sort of rustic seat ; and he said 
that Maj . Biddle seemed in such great anguish and 
distress that he was urged to take a seat there for a 
short time. Capt. Thomas also told me that Ben. 
O'Fallon said to him, pulling out his pistol and cock- 
ing it, ''If Mr. Pettis moves his arm, or attempts to 
fire before the word is given, I will shoot you down." 
"Agreed," said Capt. Thomas ; " but if Maj. Biddle 
attempts to move his arm, or makes the least motion 
to fire before the word is given, I will shoot you 
down." The pistols were then loaded and put into 
the hands of the principals, who were stationed at 
the distance of only five feet apart. The seconds 
then stood at right .angles between the principals. 
The seconds then cocked their pistols, keeping their 
eyes on each other and on their principals. They had 
throwm up for positions, and Pettis had won the choice. 
Everytliing being ready, the pistols having been 
loaded, cocked, and primed, and put into the hands 
of the principals, the words were pronounced accord- 
ing to the rule of duelling, ''Are you ready? " Both 
parties answered, "We are." The seconds then 



196 SPENCER PETTIS. 

counted one — two — three. "When the word was 
given, both the prmcipals fired with ontstretclied 
arms; the pistols were twelve or fifteen inches in 
length, and they lapped and struck against each 
other as they were discharged. There was scarcely a 
chance for either to escape instant death. They both 
fired so nearly simultaneously that the people on 
shore heard only one report, and both men fell at the 
same time. Dr. Lane told me he immediately ran 
and lifted up Maj. Biddle, and seated him on the 
little sapling. The major said, ''I feel very much 
hurt. Dr. Lane." Dr. Lane unbuttoned his clothes 
and examined his person, and found that his vital 
organs had been injured. He immediately sent across 
to the city and ordered more skiffs, with blankets 
and mattresses, to convey the wounded and dying 
man to his home. Mr. Pettis was also brought back 
to the house previously mentioned, where he died the 
next day. Maj. Biddle lingered two days longer, 
when he died. Before he died, he inquired how 
Pettis was, and was told he was dead. 

Judge James H. Peck, of the United States 
court, did all that he could do to prevent the duel. 
He was under great obligations to Mr. Pettis. Wlien 
Col. Lawless seiit in his petition to the United States 
House of Pepresentatives to have Judge Peck im- 



DEATH OF PETTIS. 197 

peached for high crimes and misdemeanors, Mr. Pettis 
was the representative in Congress from Missouri, 
and opposed any articles of impeachment being pre- 
sented. When Mr. Pettis was brought back from the 
duelUng-ground, Judge Peck was among the first to 
meet liim and offer him sympathy in his dying agonies. 
Pettis said to him, ''Did I vindicate my honor?" 
" Yes," said the judge, '' Mr. Pettis, you have vindi- 
cated your honor hke a man, a man of bravery, sir ; 
you have fought as bravely as ever a man fought in the 
world in defence of liis honor. ]^ow," said he, "" as 
you have fought like a man, die like a man." Very 
soon after that Mr. Pettis died. Col. Benton was here 
at the time. He ran over from his house, which was 
on Washington Avenue, one square north of the City 
Hotel, where Pettis was cowhided, and was there on 
the morning shortly after it occurred. Col. Benton 
gave a most graphic and stirring account of the duel. 
It was copied into all the newspapers of the United 
States, and the duel itself was characterized as one 
of the most desperate encounters that had ever oc- 
curred in the country. Mr. Pettis died August 26, 
1831, aged twenty-nine years. The whole town 
turned out and marched on foot to the funeral, which 
took place on Sunday, August ^^T^ 1831, from the 
upper end of Main Street, where Green Street now 



'IV 



198 JOSEPH SMITH. 

intersects it, down to Rutger's Garden, where a ceme- 
tery had been opened, and where Pettis was bnried ; 
and where afterwards some man from K^ashville, Ten- 
nessee, bronght a monnment to erect to liis memory. 
The Democratic party not l)eing wilUng to pay for 
it, it was afterwards sold for debt. Mr. Pettis never 
had a monnment erected to his memory, nnless we 
so regard the fact that the State of Missonri named 
a comity after him. Maj. Biddle was bnried in the 
old Catholic cemetery, on Franklin Avenne, near 
where the St. Charles Poad turned off to the right. 
Before Mrs. Biddle died, she directed by will that a 
monument should be erected to herself and her hus- 
band, right back of St. Anne's Asylum ; and when 
Mr. Lynch, the undertaker, was sent for to remove 
the bodies of Mrs. Biddle and Maj. Thomas Biddle 
to the new tomb in Calvary Cemetery, he told me that 
he found the bullet that had killed Maj . Biddle among 
his bones. He took this bullet and gave it to Maj. 
Thomas B. Hudson, who had married a niece of 
Maj. Biddle. 



\ 



After the Mormon war in Missouri, in the year 
1838, the good people of the State of Illinois invited 
the Mormons over into their State. And among 



THE MORMONS DRIVEN FROM NAUVOO. 199 

other arguments used on that occasion, they said 
to these people of the new religion, " Come over 
into the State of Illinois ; come over into a free 
State. Here you can practice your religion to the 
fullest extent. Missouri is a slave State, and the 
slave-holders in that State will not permit you to 
enjoy your religion." 

The Mormons were pleased at these flattering 
invitations, and moved over in a body, settling at 
IN^auvoo, where they built the " Temple." But they 
were not permitted very long to enjoy their promised 
freedom and toleration in religion by the good people 
of the great Prairie State. The inhabitants made 
war upon them, and treated them worse than the evil 
ones of old are said to have done, who merely 
' ' stoned the prophets ; ' ' they not only imprisoned 
Joe Smith, ''the prophet of the Lord," but shot 
and killed liim while a prisoner. The Mormons 
were finally driven out of the State of Illinois by 
the inhabitants located in their immediate vicinity, 
and removed to Utah, where they seem to have 
prospered greatly. 

While the Mormons lived at ]^auvoo, Lilburn 
W. Boggs, who had been governor of Missouri at 
the time war had been made upon that people in 
Missouri, was Uving as a private citizen in Jackson 



200 JOSEPH SMITH. 

County, Missouri, where he was shot by some un- 
known person. The ex-governor, though severely 
wounded, was not killed ; after his recovery he 
removed to California, where he died some years ago. 

When Gov. Boggs was shot, his neighbors 
and friends, and the community in general, became 
indignant at the outrage. As to its perpetrator 
there was no positive evidence, and there seemed to 
be a mystery about the nefarious affair. The public 
mind became greatly excited, and Joe Smith was 
pitched upon by conjecture and general suspicion as 
having been the perpetrator of the criminal deed. 
In consequence, Joe Smith was indicted by the grand 
jury for an attempt to assassinate the ex-governor. 
The papers were made out in proper form, and a 
requisition made according to law by the governor 
of the State of Missouri upon the governor of the 
State of Illinois, and a messenger was sent to bring 
Smith back to Missouri. The executive of Illinois 
caused the ''prophet of the Lord" to be arrested 
and delivered over, by due legal process, to the 
messenger from Missouri. 

Immediately upon being arrested, the man of 
sacred calling employed a lawyer, who sued out a 
writ of habeas corpus from the United States Dis- 
trict Court of the State of Illinois, Judge ]S^athaniel 



A WRIT OF HABEAS COKPUS. 201 

Pope presiding, the writ being returnable at Spring- 
field, the seat of government for the State of Illinois. 
The news of the arrest and of the suing out of the 
writ of haheas corpus appeared in all the newspapers 
published in that part of the State, and the day 
fixed for the hearing, on the return-day of the writ 
specifically stated. 

The United States court met at the day and time 
fixed. The United States marshal had the pris- 
oner in custody, with the return to the writ, setting 
forth the cause of his capture and detention. The 
weather was warm, and the court-room was crowded; 
the larger part of the audience being ladies, who 
were elegantly dressed, most of them using fans. 

As soon as the judge took his seat upon the 
bench, and the court was formally opened by the 
United States marshal. Judge Pope said, '' Gentle- 
men, are you ready to go on with this liaheas corpus 
case?" Thereupon Judge Butterfield, counsel for 
the prisoner, a man of prominence, who was after- 
wards commissioner of the general land-ofiice at 
Washington, rose and addressed the court, and said : 
" May it please the court, I am counsel for the pris- 
oner ; and I appear upon the present occasion under 
some embarrassment. I am now called upon," said 
he, "to defend the 'prophet of the Lord,'' before 



202 JOHN F. DARBY. 

the Pope, in the presence of angels;" wavmg- his 
hand to the beautiful and well-dressed ladies in the 
court-room . 

After this eloquent and polished address to the 
court, and after the court had heard argument at 
great length on the case, Judge Pope delivered the 
opinion of the court, discharging the prisoner. 

As soon as Smith had been discharged by the 
court, the ladies in the court-room all keeping their 
eyes upon him with the deepest interest, the man of 
distinction and notoriety, who had founded a great 
religious dynasty, arose hi the court-room, made a 
most graceful bow to the assembled multitude, and 
gracefully withdrew. He was afterwards murdered, 
while a prisoner in the jail at Carthage, Hancock 
County, Illinois, under the protection of the law. So 
passed away from earth the great founder of the 
Mormon religion, Joe Smith, the prophet, who was 
the author of the Book of Mormon, on which the 
Mormon religion is based. 



In the year 1835, John F. Darby was first elected 
mayor of St. Louis. The Eastern mails were con^ 
veyed in the old slow mail-coaches from Louisville, 



A PUBLIC MEETING CALLED. 203 

Kentucky, to St. Louis, through the States of Indi- 
ana and Ilhnois, where at times the roads were ahnost 
impassable. Mayor Darby issued a proclamation 
calling' a meeting of the citizens of St. Louis at the 
Town Hall, for the purpose of memorializing Con- 
gress to direct the great national road then being 
built, to cross the Mississippi River at St. Louis, in 
its continuation to Jefferson City. Mr. Darby was 
made president of the meeting, and George K. Mc- 
Gunnagle acted as secretary. The meeting was 
animated and enthusiastic. An able and interesting 
memorial, which had been prepared by the Hon. 
David Barton, ex-United States senator, was adopted 
by the meeting, and, being signed by the president 
and secretary, was forwarded to our delegation in 
Congress. The next move was to take action towards 
building railroads. 

On the twenty-fifth day of Febru.ary, 1836, the 
mayor, John F. Darby, made an official communica- 
tion to the Board of Aldermen, urging in the strongest 
terms that immediate steps be taken toward building a 
railroad. On that communication the following pro- 
ceedings were had : — 

In the Board of Aldermen of the City of ) 
St. Louis, February 25, 1836. 1 

On motion of Mr. Grimsley, it was — 

Resolved^ That tlie mayor's communication of this day on the 
subject of a county meeting be referred to a select committee, 



204 JOHN F. DAKBY. 

with instructions to draft an address to tlie people of St. Louis 
County, setting fortli the great advantages which must inevitably 
flow to our city, county, and State from a speedy survey and loca- 
tion of the proposed railroad from this city to Fayette, in How- 
ard Count}' ; and in\dting the citizens to attend a meeting, to be 
held in the court-house, on Thursday, the 3d of March, to ap- 
point delegates to a convention to be held by delegates from all 
the counties through which said road may pass from this city 
to the city of Fayette aforesaid. 

On motion of Mr. O'Neil, it was — 

Resolved, That in the event of the convention for taking into 
consideration the propriety of making an application to the next 
General Assembly of Missouri for a charter for a railroad from 
St. Louis to Fayette, meeting in St. Louis, the mayor is author- 
ized respectfully to invite the members of said convention to take 
lodgings at such house or houses as they may think proper, at the 
cost of the city, and to furnish the City Hall for the use of the 
convention. 

All address was made to the people of St. Louis 
County, requesting them to attend a meeting called 
at the court-house, in the city of St. Louis, on the 
third day of March, 1836, for the purpose of taking 
steps toward the building of railroads. Dr. Samuel 
Merry, a prominent citizen, was appointed chairman 
of the meeting, and Charlies Keemle secretary. The 
chairman explained the objects of the meeting, and 
then appointed a committee, consisting of John F. 
Darby, Dr. AYilliam Carr Lane, Thornton Grimsley, 
and Archibald Gamble, to make a report and draft 
an address to the people of the State on the subject 
of railroads, and then adjourned to the fifth day of 



KEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 205 

March. When the meeting reassembled, John F. 
Darby, chairman of tiie committee, made the follow- 
ing report : — 

When we look abroad, we see the people of every State in the 
Union, both in their individual and corporate capacities, actively 
eno;aofed in facilitatins; the social and commercial intercourse 
between the distant parts of their respective States, by means of 
railroads and canals ; whilst here at home we see nothing done 
upon these all-important objects, and little essaj^ed- until verj^ 
lately. 

In fact, we are forced to admit the unwelcome truth, that on 
this matter we are behind the spirit of the age. Our neighbor, 
Illinois, has gallantly taken the lead of us, and set us an example 
more worthy of imitation than of jealousy. She is pursuing the 
interest of her own people according to her best judgment, b}^ in- 
tersecting the State in nian}^ directions by channels of communi- 
cation. Let us take admonition from her course, and commence 
action upon the same policy for the benefit of every part of our 
own State. Fortunately, the citizens of our own State are 
awakening to a just sense of their actual position and true inter- 
ests ; and we, a portion of the people of the city and count}' of St. 
Louis, most cheerfull}^ meet our brethren from ever}^ part of the 
world, and pledge ourselves to aid, to the utmost extent of our 
power, every object of internal improvement which is intended for 
the common benefit of the whole State. 

In sketching the outline of any great scheme of internal improve- 
ment, the integrit}^ of the interest of the whole State should be 
kept constantly in view ; and those lines of intercommunication 
which would most effectually connect the distant parts of the 
State, and harmonize their interests, should in our opinion receive 
most favor from an enlightened public. 

This assembly disclaims any near-sighted view of State policj^ 
which would assume that one section of the State could be bene- 
fited without benefiting the whole State, or that one section 



206 JOHN F. DARBY. 

could be injured without injury to the whole. And in presenting 
any great scheme of improvement, it is obviously proper to proceed 
upon principles of unquestioned soundness and of universal 
application, namely, that the good of the greatest number of peo- 
ple and the geatest mass of interest should be first consulted, in 
accordance with the application of this principle. 

We consider the project for a railroad from the western to the 
eastern part of the State, which is jM-oposed to be made, as that 
object to take precedence of all others, and as being altogether 
worthy of the best exertions to insure success. 

When we contemplate the completion of this grand project, with 
all its beneficial consequences in a social, agricultural, manufac- 
turing, and commercial point of view, — a project which will approxi- 
mate the east, west, and middle counties ; which will break down 
sectional animosities, having their origin and nature in mutual 
ignorance ; which will increase the value of agricultural products, 
encourage manufactures, extend commerce, and aid in the 
development of unexplored resources, — we repeat that the con- 
templation of this project necessarily associates other similar 
enterprises as necessary to the main design, and enlists for all 
such undertakings, in advance, our best wishes. But as thi^ 
meeting is assembled for the sole purpose of cooperating with 
others in making the road from Fayette to this place, to that 
object alone its action should be confined ; projects for the exten- 
sion of the road to the western boundary of the State, and the 
necessary lateral branches to be left to the consideration of the 
deleo-ates from the several counties, or to future time and enter- 
prise. 

Upon this occasion, many reasons present themselves to us 
which will no doubt influence the cooperation of individuals and 
corporations in this magnificent work. Patriotic considerations 
will influence some individuals, and pecuniary interest will govern 
others. 

The counties through which the road will pass, possibly may 
follow the example of Howard County, and give some aid ; the 
State itself, in providing for the general welfare, may reasonably be 



THE KEPORT ADOPTED. 207 

expected to put its shoulder to the wheel ; and the government of 
the United States, without doubt, will assist in a work which will 
so greatly enhance the value of the public lands, and at the same 
time facilitate the defence of the frontier. But as this is not, 
perhaps, the most suitable occasion which may offer for a detail 
of the reasons upon which these calculations are baged, we forbear 
to enlarge upon the subject. Be it therefore 

Resolved^ That a committee of delegates, consisting of sixteen 
persons, be appointed by this meeting, in behalf of the county of * 
St. Louis, whose duty it shall be to meet the delegates from other 
counties, appointed upon the basis of representation, at such 
place as ma}^ be most agreeable to our western brethren, upon 
the 20tli of April next, or upon any other day which they may 
name ; and it shall be the duty of our delegates to aid in the adop- 
tion of such measures as may serve most effectually to insure the 
making of a railroad from this city to Fayette, in Howard County. 

Resolved^ That the different counties throughout the State be 
invited to hold count}^ meetings and send such delegates to the 
proposed convention. 

John F. Darby, 

Chairman. 

The report of the committee havmg* been read, 
Hamilton Rowan Gamble addressed the meetino- in a 
speech of great force and power, advocating the 
adoption of the report ; and the qnestion being put, 
the report was adopted unanimously. Great enthu- 
siasm prevailed. 

Mr. Gamble then presented to the meeting the 
names of the following gentlemen as delegates to 
the proposed convention, who were unanimously 
elected as such, viz. : Edward Tracy, Joshua B. 



208 JOHN F. DARBY. 

Brant, John O' Fallon, Samuel Meny, Archibald 
Gamble, Gen. WilUam Clark, Joseph C. Laveille, 
Thornton Grhnsley, Daniel D. Page, Henry Walton, 
Lewellen Brown, Henry Von Phul, Adam L. Mills, 
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and John Kerr. 

Dr. William Carr Lane submitted the following 
resolution, wliich was unanimously adopted : — 

Resolved^ That the thanks of this meeting are due to the mayor 
and aldermen of St. Louis for the tender of the hospitalities of the 
city to the delegates from the several counties to the proposed meet- 
ing, and that a committee of seven persons be appointed by the 
chairman, in behalf of this meeting, to aid the committee of the 
municipal authorities in providing for the accommodation and 
comfort of the delegates during their sojourn in this city. 

In pursuance of these proceedings a convention 
was held in the city of St. Louis on the twentieth 
day of April, 1836, composed of delegates from 
eleven of the most populous and wealthy counties in 
the State, and gentlemen of the greatest influence 
and highest character. So soon as the convention 
was fully organized, they were welcomed by the city 
authorities as follows : — 



I 



Mayor's Office, 
St. Louis, April i>0, 1836. 

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention : 

The municipal authorities of the city of St. Louis have the 
honor to tender to you the hospitalities of the city, and upon the 
mayor has devolved the pleasing duty of announcing to you 
that they have been no less honored than gratified that their 



GREAT PUBLIC DINNER. 209 

fellow-citizens in the various counties which you represent in this 
convention should have selected this city as the place of your 
deliberations u[)on a subject of such vital importance to the inter- 
ests and i)rosperity of the State. A committee has been a})pointed 
on the part of the Board of Aldermen, to make provision for the 
comfort and convenience of the delegates to this convention, and 
to provide such other accommodations as may facilitate the objects 
for which you have convened. Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept 
the best wishes of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the city of 
8t. Louis for the successful completion of the improvements you 
have assembled to consult about, and the fullest assurance of 
support, so far as the corporate authorities of this city can aid in 
the furtherance of an enterprise alike so desirable to tlie peo])le of 
the country and the inlial)itants of this city. 
I have the honor to be, with great respect, 

John F. Darby, 

Mayor of St. Louis. 

Two railroads Avere projected by this conven- 
tion, — one to the Iron Mountain, and the other west- 
ward, north of the Missouri River; after which they 
celebrated the undertaking by a great dinner given 
at the ]N"ational Hotel, on the corner of Third and 
Market Streets, at which the mayor, Mr. Darby, 
presided. It was a most festive and joyous occasion. 

As this was the beginning and first movement 
toward building up railroads in Missouri, we have in 
a measiu-e given the proceedings in full. This was 
the origin and commencement of our railroad sytem 
in Missouri, and as such deserves to be preserved in 
permanent book-form ; although published hereto- 

14 



210 KING OTHO OF GREECE. 

fore in newspapers and pamphlets, from which Mr. 
L. U. Reavis has taken extracts, and from mforma- 
tion furnished him by Mr. Darby, has given some 
notice in his ' ' Centennial edition ' ' of the ' ' Future 
Great City of the World." 



In the year 1835-6, King Otho of Greece came 
to St. Louis :^ He came, consigned as it were from 
Mr. John Jacob Astor, of ISTew York, to Mr. Pierre 
Chouteau, Mr. Astor' s partner in the fur trade, and 
at that time the head of the American Fui* Company. 
His royal highness travelled in a pi'ivate way, without 
any ostentatious display, or any of the trappings of 
royalty. He was a man of large size, over six feet 
high, of light complexion, and wore a heavy mus- 
tache. I dined with him at Mr. Chouteau's, and 
met him there at parties on several occasions. He 
could not speak English, and used the French lan- 
guage in conversation. He did not seem to be very 
refined, and from the manner in which he loaded liis 
big mustache with his soup, and soiled his napkin 
at table, he was not calculated to impress very fa- 
vorably an American, unaccustomed and unused to 
royalty. 



VISITS STE. GENEVIEVE. 211 

The king spent some time here, without any 
seeming object. There was a want of intellectual 
enjoyment in his pursuits, and he appeared to spend 
life in the pursuit of pleasure and personal amuse- 
ments. He passed nearly , all the time, while in St. 
Louis, in Mr. Cliouteau's counting-room, where he 
went daily, and where Mr. Chouteau, from his great 
politeness, was compelled to entertain him in con- 
versation. 

The king afterwards went from St. Louis to 
Ste. GenevicA^e, where, as it was not a busy town, 
he found men of more leisure ; and as they were 
men of wealth, and all spoke French, they were 
more congenial to him. Among the gentlemen then 
in Ste. Genevieve were the Valles, Gen. B osier, 
John Ribeau, and many others ; all gentlemen of 
the first respectability, fine education, and of the 
most polished and finished manners. Here the king- 
seemed to enjoy life, and whiled away his existence 
among these accomplished gentlemen for several 
months, drinking wine, playing cards, shooting-, 
riding, etc. The generous hospitality which sur- 
rounded him on all sides, as it w^ere, charmed and 
captivated his royal highness. 

The man of royal distinction was excessively 



212 KING OTHO OF GREECE. 

fond of shooting, and nearly every day he was ban- 
termg Gen. Bosier to shoot with him at pigeons on 
the wing, at five dollars a shot. Being a king, it 
was beneath the dignity of his eminent position to 
shoot for any less sum. Gen. Bosier, besides being 
a man of most commanding and elegant personal 
appearance, was witlial one of the best shots of his 
time. He could handle a gun with the greatest ef- 
fect and precision, and brought down his bird at 
every shot. Gen. Bosier, seeing that his opponent 
was a poor shot, declined in most courteous terms to 
shoot any more. But his royal highness insisted upon 
continuing the sport, and the man of unerring cer- 
tainty with the gun was compelled to continue the 
shooting rather than give offence to his majesty. 
So much for Greece^ — on the l3anks of the Missis- 
sippi, — 

"Yet bleeding Greece no more." 

The king of Greece, after lingering long on the 
west l)ank of the great river of the American conti- 
nent, took leave of ^his hospitable entertainers, the 
French inhabitants, and went to ^ew York. Mr. 
Pierre Chouteau, Jr. , informed me that his good friend 
John Jaco]3 Astor had lost about twelve or fifteen 
thousand dollars by this distinguislied specimen of 



CAPT. ISAIAH SELLERS. 213 

royalty from the classic land of Greece, in fnrnish- 
ing him spending-money to travel on in a manner 
becoming the dignity of a sovereign and a king. 



As a steamboat captain and pilot on the Western 
rivers and waters, particularly on the Mississippi, Capt. 
Isaiah Sellers never had his equal, and certainly he 
never had his superior, in this particular vocation. 

Capt. Sellers, from his great success in the caUing 
and business which he had engaged in and followed 
from boyhood to advanced age, and hi justice to his 
his good name and fine character, would seem to be 
entitled to a more honorable notice than the seeming* 
burlesque and ridicule with which he is spoken of by 
^'Mark Twain." 

It is not our purpose to write a full biography of 
him, but to give some few incidents and anecdotes 
concerning him, illustrating somewhat the life and 
character of the man. 

Capt. Sellers was born in Iredelk County, ^N^orth 
Carolina, and came West to St. Louis in the year 
1825, when he was quite a young man. His educa- 
tion was limited, and he devoted himself to leai-ning 
the business of a pilot, and of acquiring a knowledge 



214 CAPT. ISAIAH SELLERS. 

of the Mississi[)pi River between St. Louis and ^ew 
Orleans. 

Capt. Sellers learned the river thoroughly. Dur- 
ing' the time that he was thus captain, in coming to 
a dangerous place in the channel, he would go up to 
the wheel-house, relieve the pilot, take hold of the 
wheel himself, and put the boat through into safe 
and secure waters. After acting for many years as 
commander of vessels, he chose to confine himself 
to the business of pilot. 

During the nearly forty years that Capt. Sellers 
was engaged in navigating the Western livers, he 
never sank a boat, never wrecked a vessel, and never 
ran his boat into and sunk another steamboat. It 
used to be said by steamboatmen, that ''he had the 
channel of the Mississippi Kiver by heart." ''In 
the twilight, in the black and dark night," awaken 
Capt. Sellers up out of a sound sleep, at any point 
on the river between St. Louis and ^ew Orleans, 
and let him take a glance at the shore, and he could 
instantly tell where he was. He knew of every ob- 
struction in the river for the whole twelve hundred 
miles between these two cities, whether from wrecks 
of steamboats, rocks, stumps, logs, or other cause, 
and kncAV how to avoid them. There was not a farm- 
house, stable, l)arn, wood-shed, warehouse, or wood- 



HIS RIVER RECORD. 215 

yard on either shore that he was not famihar with, 
and used them as landmarks in guiding- his vessel. 
^ay, there was hardly a sycamore tree, a large Cot- 
tonwood, or old dead tree on the east or west bank 
that he did not avail himself of to steer by. He 
knew perfectly well the dividing lines between the 
States bordering on the river, — between Tennessee 
and Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, Missis- 
sippi and Louisiana, Louisiana and Arkansas, and 
Arkansas and Missoui'i, — and could point out the 
exact spot on the bank from the deck of the steam- 
boat. 

Capt. Sellers made one hundred and nine round 
trips, continuously, as pilot on the steamboat Aleck 
Scott, never meeting with the slightest accident, — 
not even the breaking of a bucket in the wheel-house. 
He was the principal pilot on the steamer James M. 
White when Capt. Swon made the run from ^ew 
Orleans to St. Louis, against the mighty current of 
the Mississippi River, in four days, — a trip which, in 
time, has never been equalled. 

Capt. Sellers was possessed of a powerful intel- 
lect, and if he had been educated, and turned his at- 
tention to scientific or professional pursuits instead 
of steamboating, he would have left a name among 
the men and times in which he lived. 



216 CAPT. ISAIAH SELLERS. 

As somewhat illustrating Capt. Sellers' s char- 
acter, we heg- leave to relate the following anecdote : 
In the months of February and March, in the year 
1841, a good many ladies and gentlemen among the 
wealthiest citizens of St. Louis went on a trip of 
pleasure to ^''ew Orleans. After spending some 
weeks in that gay, and at that time most ex- 
travagant city, the party determined to return home. 
Capt. Swon had just come to ^ew Orleans on his 
first ti-ip with his splendid new steamboat St. 
Louis. She was the most costly and elegant 
steamer then on the Mississippi. -As a matter of 
course, all of the gay party availed themselves of the 
occasion to come home on the ''floating palace." 
The boat was pretty well filled with passengers. 
The same round of pleasure, the snmptuous table, 
the fine music, and the dance every night on the boat, 
showed that all these devotees of pleasure were bent 
on the pnrsnit of happiness. 

In ascending the river one night, the heavens be- 
came overcast, and black with a coming storm. The 
music ceased and the dance stopped. The wind 
blew from the west with such terrific fury as sensi- 
blv to careen the vessel. All had heard of storms, 
tornadoes, and hui'ricanes on the Lower Mississippi. 
The loud groans of the high-pVessure engines, which 



"SELLERS IS AT THE WHEEL." 217 

a short time before had been heard to echo from the 
opposite shore, became drowned and hushed by the 
raging of the storm, and the \dvid flashes of hght- 
ning wore a more dreadful hue than that of total 
darkness. Husbands gathered near their wives and 
daughters, against the time when the anticipated aw- 
ful crash should come. There was no conversation. 
In that dread moment, anxiety and distress were de- 
picted on every countenance. Two gentlemen at last 
went out on the east side of the boat (the wind blow- 
ing so strong from the west that the doors could not 
be opened in that direction) to ask the captain if it 
would not be better to try and land the boat, amidst 
such threatened disaster and destruction. They 
found the captain, and made known their request. 
The captain was cool and collected, and said, 
'^ There's no danger, there's no danger; Sellers is 
at the wheel." 

Here was one man holding in his hands the lives 
of more than two hundred souls, upon the broad ex- 
panse of the great river, with the confidence of the 
captain that theyAvere safe and secure. Amidst that 
pitch darkness and the howling of the winds, Capt. 
Sellers literally guided the boat through the terrific 
and rapid flashes of lightning. The messengers to 
the captain went back into the cabin, and quieted the 
appi'ehensions of all. 



218 (>EN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

Capt. Sellers kept his room at the St. Charles 
Hotel in Xew Orleans and at Barnum's Hotel in 
St. Lonis. As soon as he landed his boat, he would 
go to his room, dress himself, and stay at the hotel 
till the boat was ready to leave, when he would go on 
board and take his place at the wheel. He dressed 
well, and associated with gentlemen. He was a fine- 
looking man, modest and unobtrusive, and possessed 
none of those bombastic characteristics with which 
his character is attempted to be clothed by the author 
of the " Gilded Age." Capt. Sellers' s character and 
reputation were such, that all the Mississippi pilots 
boasted of him, and were as proud of him as the 
printers were of Dr. Franklin. 

Capt. Sellers died in Memphis, of small-pox, in 
February, 1863. His remains were brought to St. 
Louis and interred in Belief ontaine Cemetery. A 
monument is erected over his remains, representing 
him in pilot dress, standing at the wheel, steei-ing 
a steamboat dn the Mississippi River, with a map of 
the river, in part, cut in the marble at his feet. 



As early as the year 1818, a sand-bar had been 
formed in the Mississippi River in the bend at the 
lower end of the town of St. Louis. In process of 



THE CITY THREATENED BY SAND-BAKS. 219 

time another sand-bar was formed in the river at the 
upper end of the city, north of Bloody Island. These 
two sand-bars seemed to be growing and extending, as 
if to meet in front of the city. Every year the current 
appeared to be cutting its way more and more into the 
American Bottom, on the eastern side of Bloody 
Island, and the apprehension became general that 
unless something was done to remedy the threatened 
calamity, the city would be left with nothing but a 
sand-bar in front of it. Many predictions and 
prophecies were made that the town would disappear, 
and some persons even refused to make investments 
in real estate through apprehension of such an event. 
As early as 1833, the city authorities, becoming 
justly alarmed, took steps for the removal of the 
sand-bars. They engaged Mr. John Goodfellow, a 
worthy citizen, to go to the sand-bar at the upper 
end of the city, with ox-teams, and plow up the sand, 
upon the theory that when the water rose in the 
river the loose sand would be washed away. This 
idea had been suggested by, and originated with Col. 
Thomas F. Riddick. Gen. Bernard Pratte and one 
or two other wealthy citizens advanced the money to 
carry out the work. Still the calamity seemed no 
less threatening. Steamboats could not come to the 
landing as high up as Olive Street, and every day 



220 GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

there were clearer indications that the river wonld 
ultimately sweep clear around on the east side of 
Bloody Island. Such was the state of affairs in the 
spring of 1835, when I had the honor of being first 
elected mayor of St. Louis. I had been a member of 
the Board of Aldermen the year before. The first 
duty devolving upon the city government was to pre- 
serve and protect the harbor. Every meml^er of the 
Board of Aldermen had his plan, and many promi- 
nent citizens volunteered their suggestions. I vent- 
ured to recommend to the Board that the general gov- 
ernment should be called upon to do the work, as St. 
Louis was a ]3ort of entry ; to which they assented. 
Accordingly, memorials to Congress were prepared 
and sent to our senators and representatives in 
Washington ; which duty devolved upon me, as the 
head of the city. These memorials were presented, 
and referred to the proper committee. IS^othing was 
done, however, in favor of our apphcation, through- 
out the years 1835 and 1836. 

At that time Gen. Wm. H. Ashley was the repre- 
sentative in Con^-ress from this district. He was warm- 
ly attached to the people of the city of St. Louis, where 
he had lived so long and had so many devoted friends. 
This circumstance gave us great enconragement and 
hope. His daring adventui-es, perils, and enterprises 



UKGINa HARBOR IMPROVEMENT. 221 

ill the Rocky Mountains, whereby he had accumulated 
great wealth ; the elegance of his entertainments at 
Washington, and his gentlemanly bearing, all had 
given him a position of commanding influence, and 
made him one of the most popular men in the House 
of Representatives ; and although he was no speaker, 
a dozen members, of eloquence and ability on the 
floor, were always ready to spring to their feet and 
advocate his measures. That same power of capti- 
Abating had enabled him to have passed the various 
acts whereby the land-titles in this State were con- 
firmed to the people of Missouri ; and his memory 
deserves from the inhabitants, whom he so faithfully 
served, some mark of monumental honor and acknowl- 
edgment. During two years I wrote to every mem- 
ber in both houses with whom I was acquainted, 
urging and appealing to them to favor our petition 
and give us the aid prayed for, — particularly to Mr. 
Clay and Mr. Crittenden, with both of whom I was 
personally acquainted, and who had known me from 
my boyhood. We finally got a report recommending 
the iin])rovement of the harbor. Col. Benton was 
then in the Senate, but he was attached to and con- 
nected with the Democratic party, which, from the 
time that Gen. Jackson had vetoed the Lexington 
and Maysville Road bill, had denounced internal im- 



222 GEN. PvOBEKT E. LEE. 

provements by the Federal government, and there- 
fore, on the score of consistency and party doctrine, 
he conld not support our appUcation very zealously, 
although I believe he did not oppose it. 

The committee in the House of Representatives 
to whom our papers w^ere referred, and of which 
Patrick Henry Pope, the member from the Louisville 
district, Kentucky, was chairman, made a favorable 
report, accompanied by copies of a bill which he sent 
me. In pursuance of this, an appropriation of one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars was made for the 
improvement and protection of the harbor of St. 
Louis. Gen. Ashley also wrote and informed me of 
the fact. That was a happy day for St. Louis ; and 
in looking back, I recur with pleasure to the occasion, 
and rememl:)er with what pride and satisfaction — 
even before writing my official communication to the 
Board on the subject — I ran around to see and con- 
gratulate many gentlemen who had this measure so 
much at heart, and who had labored so faithfully to 
have it accomplished. Amongst these I might name 
Col. James C. Laveille, Col. Thornton Grimsley, 
George Morton, Daniel D. Page, and Adam S. 
Mills. 

General Gratiot was a descendant of one of those 
" Huguenot families who, banished from France by 



THE TRANSFER OF UPPER LOUISIANA. 223 

the revocation of the edict of I^antes, carried their vir- 
tues and their love of freedom to happier climes, and 
became the progenitors of so many illustrious men." 
He was born here, and was connected, by the ties of 
consanguinity and marriage, with the most respectable, 
wealthy, and influential families of the city. He had 
been present, as a boy, when the change of govern- 
ment took place, and looked down on the whole 
population of the town, then and there assembled to 
witness the ceremony of hauling down the French 
flag and running up the stai-s and stripes ; when and 
where his father, Charles Gratiot, who was one of 
the very few persons who could speak and understand 
the English language, interpreted the speech made 
in Enghsh by Maj. Stoddard, the commissioner on 
the part of the United States, to Don Carlos Dehault 
Delassus, the lieutenant-governor of Upper Louis- 
iana. He also interpreted the address to the French 
people then pi*esent. It was Charles Gratiot who 
requested the inhabitants, in their native tongue, when 
the ceremony took place, to cheer the American flag, 
when it was for the first time run up and floated to 
the breeze on the western bank of the Mississippi. 
The cheers of the crowd were faint and few, as many, 
very many of the people shed bitter tears of regret 
at being transferred, without previous knowledge, 



224 GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

from the sovereignty of a government and langnage 
to which they had heen accustomed and fondly 
attached, and under which they had heen hred, to 
that of a strange government, with whose manners, 
habits, language, and laws they were not familiar. 
There existed, moreover, in the minds of many of 
the French inhabitants a deep-rooted prejudice 
against the Americans, notwithstanding the en- 
couraging and conciliating speech made ])y their 
countryman and friend, Charles Gratiot, who was 
favorable to, and sustained and approved the transfer 
of the country. 

Mr. Jefferson, from his long residence in Paris, 
understood the French character well, was much at- 
tached to the French people, and was aware that the 
inhabitants of Louisiana disliked and were greatly 
opposed to the American government. When Gren. 
George Kogers Clark conquered Illinois, a goodly 
number of the inhabitants refused to remain under 
the American government, and removed from Kas- 
kaskia. Fort Chartres, Prairie du Roche, and other 
villages in Illinois ; while some of them came west 
of the Mississippi, and settled in Ste. Genevieve, 
I^ew Bourbon, St. Michael's, and other towns. This 
feeling of aversion then to the American govern- 
ment may perhaps date back from the time of the 



CONCILIATING THE INHABITANTS. 225 

^^ victory on the Plains of Abraham, so dearly pur- 
chased by the blood of the gallant Wolfe," when 
Quebec, Montreal, and all Canada capitulated to the 
English. The French dominion had ceased to exist 
east of the Mississippi, and now, under a new form 
of government, the Fi*ench power on the American 
continent was to cease forever. It was a sad reflec- 
tion to the inhabitants. Mr. Jeffei'son, with a full 
conviction of the truth of the maxim which he had 
laid down, that governments were instituted among 
men, '' deriving their just powers from the consent 
of the governed," instructed Gen. "Wilkinson, when 
sent here to take charge of the country, to win over, 
conciliate, and attach the inhabitants to the govern- 
ment of the United States. Acting upon this prin- 
ciple, with that characteristic judgment which marked 
his career as a statesman, he sent appointments to the 
sons of four of the most prominent families of 
Louisiana as cadets to West Point, viz., Charles Gra- 
tiot, Jr., son of Charles Gi'atiot; Auguste P. Chou- 
teau, son of Pierre Chouteau ; the son of a man 
^ named Loi*jmier,' of St. Charles, and the son of a 
gentleman from ^TsTew Madrid. 

Charles Gratiot, the cadet, graduated with dis- 
tinction at West Point, served with honor and credit 
in the war of 1812, and, for gallant and distinguished 

15 




I 



226 <^EN. KOBEllT E. LEE. 

acts and services in the field, was honored with an 
unaninions vote of thanks by the Congress of the 
United States ; he was promoted from time to time, 
and placed at the head of the engineer department 
of the government. He was an honor to the nation ; 
and T have heard him prononnced hj competent en- 
gineers, who knew him Well, a man of the first pro- 
fessional attainments, — a rich reward to the govei-n- 
ment that had edncated him. His manners were as 
child-like, simple, and nnpretending as his talents 
were brilliant and cultivated. 

As soon as the appropriation had been made l^y 
Congress for the improvement of the harbor, as the 
head and representative of the city I opened a cor- 
I'espondence with Gen. (xratiot, and urged him to 
come to St. Loins and examine the harbor, and see 
for hhnself the work required to be done. This he 
did. He stayed in St. Louis about two wrecks, dur- 
ing which time I was with him almost every day ; 
going up and down the river on both sides, talking* 
with pilots and steamboatinen, and getting from 
them their knowledge and experience about the cm- 
rents and workings of the river ; examining the 
maps, plats, and surveys in the city engineer' s office, 
and procuring all the information that was possible 
0:1 th'^ siiliject. I went with and introduced him to 



LIEUT. LEE SENT TO ST. LOUIS. 227 

the Board of Aldermen, Avhile in session, and to the 
members thereof individually ; on which occasion the 
Hon. Wilson Pi-imm, then president of the Board, 
with his nsual abilit}^, made a handsome address, al- 
luding in happy terms to his associations and connec- 
tions with the city and its inhabitants. In accord- 
ance wdth the customary usage of the times, our 
distinguished visitor was given an entertaimnent at 
my residence, wdiich was honored by the presence of 
twenty of our most prominent and influential citizens, 
who Avere desirous of paying a proper tril)ute of re- 
spect, and of encouraging the work in Avhich all Avei'e 
so deeply interested, ^ot one of the gentlemen 
who honored the occasion as guests now survives. 
In parting with Gen. Grratiot, on his return to Wash- 
ington, I begged him to send us a competent man to 
do the work. This he assured me should be done. 
Directly on his return to Washington he sent out 
Lieut. Robert E. Lee, with a lettei- to me. All had 
to be done, however, under the direct sanction and 
approval of Gen. Gratiot, the head of the bureau at 
Washington ; the surveys, plans, estimates, and 
drawings for the work being first submitted to and 
approved by the chief, at the head of the public ser- 
vice. 

• Lieut. Robert E. Lee applied himself mostdevot- 



228 GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

edly to the work of improving the harbor for about 
two years, comineneing in 1837. His time was oc- 
cupied in the making of surveys, preparing drawings, 
and planning the manner of doing the work ; the pur- 
chase of machinery ; the prosecution of the work in the 
driving of pik^s and fiUing in with l^i-ush and stone, 
and in making livetments. I saw him ahnost daily ; 
he worked most indefatigably, in that quiet, unobtru- 
sive manner and with the modesty characteristic of 
the man. He went in person with the hands every 
morning about sunrise, and worked day by day in the 
hot, broiling sun, — the heat being greatly increased 
by the reflection from the river. He shared the hard 
task and common fare and rations furnished to the 
common laborers, — eating at the same table, in the 
ca])in of the steamboat used in the prosecution 
of the work, but never on any occasion becoming 
too familiar with the men. He maintained and pre- 
served under all circumstances his dignity and gen- 
tlemanly bearing, winning and commanding the es- 
teem, regard, and respect of every one under him. 
He also slept in the cabin of the steamboat, moored 
to the bank near their works. In the same place 
Lieut. Lee, with his assistant, llenry Kayser, Esq., 
worked at his drawings, plans, and estimates every 
night till eleven o'clock. Many times there was a 



THE WORK DISCONTINUED. 229 

difference of opinion between Lieut. Lee and Gen. 
Gratiot as to the best manner of prosecuting certain 
parts of the work, and in every instance Lieut. Lee 
yielded, as a matter of course, to the judgment of 
his superior at Washington. The work done by 
Lieut. Lee was on the IlUnois shore, at the upper 
and lower end of Bloody Island. 

By his rich gift of genius and scientific knowl- 
edge, Lieut. Lee brought the Father of Waters un- 
der control. The sand-bars and obstructions were 
washed away, and a deep and secure harbor made 
for the good people of this city. The appropria- 
tions by Congress for the work were exhausted, 
and Lieut. Lee ceased further operations on the 
improvement in the spring of 1839. Our able 
and reliable friend Gen. Ashley was no longer in 
Congress, having declined to run again, — he had 
been defeated as the Whig candidate for governor 
of Missouri by Lilburn W. Boggs, the Democratic 
candidate. Our other good friend. Gen. Gratiot, 
and the main support in the prosecution of this enter- 
prise, had resigned the ofiice of chief engineei* of 
the government in 1838. His successor. Gen. Tot- 
ten, was a man of ability, but he had not the same 
local ties and associations as his predecessor. 

It was with the deepest feeling of regret that 



230 (iEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

Lieut. Lee expressed to me his chagrin and morti- 
fication at l)eing compelled to discontinue the woidv. 
It seemed as if it were a great personal misfortune 
to stop, when the work was ahout half finished. 
It is true, the current of the Mississippi had heen 
given the proper direction, and the sand-hars 
washed away and reuioved l)y the ahrasions of the 
stream ; hut there was need of dikes and other 
works, to secure and protect what had been accom- 
plished. 

Dr. William Carr Lane succeeded to the mayor- 
alty of St. Louis in 1839. The city authorities, 
Avithout assistance or aid from any quarter, con- 
tinued the work of improving the harbor, under the 
direction of the able assistant of Lieut. Lee, Henry 
Kayser, Esq. But they were harassed and annoyed 
through injunctions by certain parties in Illinois ; 
the mayor and some of his sul)ordinates were even 
indicted by some of the public functionaries of 
that State. 

In 1840 I was again elected mayor. The work 
on the harl)oi* was continued by the city government. 
Application to Congress was renewed for aid in be- 
half of the city, but without success. The polit- 
ical power of the government Avas then east of the 
mountains, and appropriations for the West could 



THE WOFvK CONTINUED AND COMPLETED. 231 

not l)e obtained. ^N^ow, however, the " sceptre hath 
departed from Judea," and the destiny of this great 
nation is forever permanently established in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley. As the head and representative of 
the city, and in behalf of the good people thereof, I 
made known to Robert E. Lee, in appropriate terms, 
the great obligations the anthorities and citizens gen- 
erally were nnder to him, for his skill and labor in 
preserving the harbor. The work of improvement 
by the city was continned, without assistance from any 
quarter, under that efficient and able engineer, Henry 
Kayser, who was engaged for about fifteen years at 
the work, in the building of dikes, protecting the 
work formerly erected, and finishing all the business 
connected therewith, till all was made permanently 
secure and safe. Gen. S. B. Curtis, toward the com- 
pletion of the work, as city engineer, had charge of 
the improvement. 

So mncli for the connection of Robert E. Lee 
with the improvements of the harbor of St. Louis. 
He visited my house, drank of my cup, and partook 
of my humble and unpretending hospitality. Ever 
afterwards, Avhen I visited Washington, he promptly 
called upon me to renew our acquaintance. One of 
the most gifted and cultivated minds I had ever met 
with, he was as scrupulously conscientious and faithful 



232 GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 

in the discharge of his duties as he was modest and 
un])retending'. He had none of that coddhng, and 
petty, puerile planning and scheming which men of 
little minds and small intellectual calibre use to make 
and take care of their fame. The lal)ors of Robert 
E. Lee can speak for themselves. 

On the fourth of July, 1870, when, amidst the 
firing of cannon and the shouts and cheers of tens 
of thousands of people who lined the shores of the 
river, the steamboat which bore his name, in the great 
race from x^ew Orleans, came booming up, as I 
gazed on the enthusiastic scene, and looked at the 
works accomplished l3y the great engineer, my mind 
reverted to the fact that but for him there would have 
been no deep water in the place where she ran, and 
in which she swept past the city with so much grace 
and elegance, amidst the general enthusiasm of that 
vast multitude. 

Claiming no credit whatever for myself, or my 
huml)le efforts to preserve and secure the harbor of 
St. Louis, save that I tried faithfully to discharge 
my duty in the position in which I had so repeatedly 
been placed by my fellow-citizens, I feel that the peo- 
ple of this great city are under obligations and owe 
a debt of gratitude to the men who, in their day and 
time, preserved the harbor. Amongst these I might 



MADAME BONNEVILLE. 233 

name Dr. William Carr Lane, Daniel D. Page, 
Thornton Grimsley, George Morton, Joseph C. La- 
veille, Wilson Primm, and Henry Kayser. Without 
the efforts of those gentlemen there would have been 
no town to build a bridge to ; no deep river and har- 
bor for the steamboats to float in and carry on com- 
merce ; no large import duties of millions of dollars 
collected annually at this point for the national treas- 
ury ; no flourishing city, teeming with the busy hum 
of business, manufactories, and all the appliances of 
cultivation and refinement, bespeaking the proud 
triumphs of civilization and inviting the permanent 
location of the national capital. 

In this communication I have rim into many inci- 
dents and historical events and surroundings connected 
with the subject; but I have deemed it not altogether 
out of place to present the picture to the public with 
all the lights and shades by which the outlines could 
be fully traced and the background distinctly delin- 
eated, that it might be seen in all its bearings. 



Madame Bonneville, the mother of Gen. Benjamin 
E. Bonneville, late of the United States army, and who 
died about three years ago (1877), at Fort Smith, was 



234 MADAME BONNEVILLE. 

a French lady by birth. Her husliaiid was a gentle- 
man of great respectabiUty, and a member of the 
Assembly in Paris at the time of the French Revolu- 
tion, where he lost his life during that reign of terror. 
Some accounts say he was beheaded. He was the in- 
timate friend and companion of Thomas Paine, the 
infidel writer, who was a member of the same As- 
sembly. The story goes that, after the death of her 
husband, Madame Bonne\dlle came to the United 
States with Thomas Paine, bringing her only child, 
Benjamin. This boy was educated at West Point, 
having obtained his position in that institution in 
considei-ation of the sympathy extended to him by 
the functionaries at the head of the government of 
the United States, on account of the manner of his 
father's death. Gen. Bonneville was a man of 
science, and rose to distinction in his profession. 

Madame Bonneville, after coming to the United 
States, was said to be housekeeper for Thomas Paine, 
in whose family she is reported to have lived for a 
number of years. 

About fifty years ago Madame Bonneville came to 
St. Louis, in company with her son, then Capt. Bon- 
neville, who at that time was making arrangements 
for carrying out his expedition on the plains west of 
Missouri, a full account of which was written out 



HER RESIDENCE AT THE CHOUTEAU MANSION. 235 

and published in the year 1842 by Wavshingtoii Ir- 
vmg. 

Madame Bonneville came to St. Louis about the 
year 1830-31, and took up her residence with 
Madame Aug-uste Chouteau, widow of Col. Auguste 
Chouteau, who had with Laclede founded this city. 
Madame Chouteau had a splendid mansion, and a 
large nnmberof servants (slaves), all of whom spoke 
French. Here Madame Bonneville was at home ; 
with French manners, French life, French cookery 
and habits, she seemed to enjoy life. I have dined 
with this distinguished lady frequently in that hospi- 
table mansion, as I was a friend of Henry Chouteau, 
then clerk of the court, and a visitor of his at the 
domicile of his mother. 

Madame Bonneville was then an old woman, and 
conversed entirely in the French language. She was 
a woman of common size, features rather sharp, and 
gave no indications, from her then personal appear- 
ance, of ever having been possessed of much beauty. 
Still the connection of her husband and her family 
with the scenes o^' blood in the French capital, where 
she herself was a party, her subsequent flight to 
this country, and her association with Thomas Paine, 
would seem to indicate that she had passed through 
some most eventful and stirring' scenes. 

After Madame Chouteau's death, Madame Bonne- 



236 MADAME BONNEVILLE. ' 

ville lived and kept house for some years in the 
neighhorhood of Eighth and Wahiut Streets, being 
supported by her son, Gen. Bonneville. 

Gen. Bonneville buried his mother in Mount Re- 
pose, Bellefontaine Cemetery. Over the spot he 
erected a monument, with the following inscrip- 
tion : — 

To my Mother, 
Margaket B., 
relict of 
NiCHOLis De Bonneville, 
depute de 1789, 
France. 
vShe departed this life 
Oct. 30, 1846, 
Aged 79 years. 

In the same burial spot, beside the remains of his 
mother. Gen. Bonneville has been buried. Over his 
grave also a monument has been erected, on which 
the following inscription has been made : — 

In Memory of 

Gen. B. L. E. Bonneville, 

U. S. A. 

Born April 14, 1796, 

died 

June 12, 1878, 

At Fort Smith, Ark. 

Here lies one whose noble deeds 

Have not escaped the page of fame ; 

The generations yet unborn 

Shall know the record of his honor' d name. 

MAY HE REST IN PEACE. 



FKANCIS L. McINTOSH. 237 

I had known Gen. Bonneville intimately for 
nearly fifty years, and had drawn for him his articles of 
copartnership when he went forth in his fur-trading 
expedition. He was a man of the noblest impulses. 



In the month of March, 1836, a small steamboat 
called the Flora, H. IS^. Davis commander, came 
from Pittsburg to St. Louis. While the boat lay at 
the wharf, one of the hands had been arrested bv 
Constable William Mull for fighting. Mcintosh, a 
bright mulatto man of great sti*ength, who was second 
steward on the boat, forcibly took the prisoner from 
the constable. George Hammond, the deputy-sheriff 
of St. Louis County, who happened to be passing at 
the time, volunteered to assist the constable, and 
they arrested Mcintosh for rescuing the prisoner 
from the constable, took him before a justice of the 
peace, and had him legally committed to answer to 
the charge. The constable and sheriff started with 
him to jail, which was about four squares from the 
justice's office. Mcintosh walked along with them, 
one on each side of him, apparently willingly. He 
had on a sort of loose coat, and as thev went alons" 
he ran his hands into his coat pockets and took out 



238 FKANCIS L. McINTOSH. 

handfuls of peanuts, which he ate on the way. As 
the party reached the north-east corner of the court- 
house square, at the corner of Chestnut and Fourth 
Streets, only two squares from the jail, he asked them 
what would be done with him for the offence with 
which he was charged. Hammond said, jestingly, 
perhaps they might hang him. Mull and Hammond 
were small men, under the middle size, wdiilst Mcin- 
tosh was tall, athletic, and powerful. The prisoner 
had been waiting, no doubt, for a good place to 
assault the officers ; and the open space around the 
court-house, then not much built up, seemed, per- 
haps, to present the most favorable opportunity. 

As soon as they struck the pavement on the west 
side of Fourth Street, Mcintosh i-an his hand into his 
coat pocket, pulled out a long butcher-knife, seized 
hold of Constable Mull, made two desperate lunges 
with the death-deahng instrument into his body, and 
the constable fell to the pavement. At the same 
instant that Mcintosh was dealing the deadly blows 
upon Mull, Shei-iff Hammond seized him by the 
collar to pull him aAvay and save the life of his 
brother officer. As he did so. Mull fell, and the 
murderous desperado plunged his sharp butcher- 
knife into Hammond's throat, jerked away from hini, 
and ran south toward Market Street. Though 



A BLOODY SCENE. 239 

the blood gushed out of Hammond's throat m a large 
stream, he attempted to pursue the fleeing cut- 
throat, and ran abont fifty feet, when he fell on the 
pavement directly in front of the court-house. The 
stream of blood flowing from his throat, as large as a 
man's thumb, ran across the brick pavement east- 
wardly into the gutter, making a mark some three 
inches broad and twelve or fourteen feet in length. 
Hammond died where he fell, in less than five min- 
utes. Some persons ran around to Hammond's house, 
which w^as only thi'ee hundred feet distant, on Wal- 
nut Street, to notify them of the dreadful calamity. 
His wife and several of his children came running to 
the awful scene of death, and when they reached the 
spot they threw themselves upon the dead body with 
such shrieks of agonizing grief and distress as 
touched the feelings of all the persons present, 
where about a hundred people had collected, so that 
every one in the crowed seemed moved to tears. 

In the meantime Mcintosh, the murderer, was 
pursued by persons in the street, to the number of 
about fifty people. He ran around on to Walnut 
Street from Market Street, jumped over the fence 
into a private lot and took refuge in a backhouse, 
fastened and barred the door, still holding the death- 



240 FRANCIS L. McINTOSH. 

dealing knife in his hand, and when his pursuers 
demanded liis surrender, he threatened to kill the 
first man who laid hands upon him. In the crowd 
was a strong and brave Irishman, who picked up 
a piece of timber and smashed the dooi* in, and 
instantly knocked the negro down and took his 
knife away from him. His captors then hurried him 
off to jail, and delivered him over to James Broth- 
erton, sheriff of St. Louis County, and ex-officio 
jailer, who locked the prisoner up in a cell. 

The news spread like wildfire through town that 
the negro had killed both the sheriff and constable, 
and persons came rimning to the jail from different 
parts of the town, greatly excited. In a ver}^ short 
time a crowd of between live hundred and a thousand 
persons collected at the jail, determined to hang the 
negro then and there. They demanded of James 
Brotherton, the sheriff, the prisoner. He said no, 
that the man was his prisoner, and he intended to 
protect him, and keep him to be dealt with according 
to law. Instantly two or three stout men seized 
Brotherton and held his hands behind him, whilst 
another ran his hand into his pocket, took out the 
key of the cell in which the prisoner was confined, 
immediately opened the cell, brought out the negro 



BURNING THE MURDERER. 241 

murderer, and started with him westward out Chest- 
nut Street. The excitement was great, and men 
from all points came running to join the croAvd. 

At last, as they were proceeding up Chestnut 
Sti'eet, an individual from the land of steady habits, 
and the good old State of Connecticut, who was 
intensely excited, shouted out, ''Let's burn him." 
The word took with the multitude, and the cry 
went up, '' Burn him, burn him." They took him to 
two honey-locust trees, about where the Polytechnic 
building is now situated, got some trace-chains, and 
bound his body to one of the locust trees. There 
was a carpenter's shop close by, full of shavings and 
dry pine boards ; they ran into the shop, collected 
these shavings and boards, and piled them around 
the unfortunate culprit, and set the same on fire. 
The negro was instantly enveloped in a brisk blaze, 
which ran up far above his head into the tops of the 
trees. The negro was burned to death in an incredi- 
bly short time, Avhen his executioners dispersed, 
leaving some of the bones of his body un consumed 
by the fire, which wei-e afterwards buiied by the 
coroner. From Hammond's death to the capture 
and burning of the negro was not more than one 
hour's time. In fact, three-fourths of the citizens 

16 



242 LAFAYETTE PARK. 

did not know anything abont it till the tragic affair 
was over. 

For two 01' three years afterwards, strangers and 
\dsitors from the East — particularly from Pitts- 
burg — would go to that locust tree, cutoff pieces 
of it, and take them away ; so that the tree was 
greatly cut to pieces, and large portions of it carried 
away. 



The " St Louis common" was a large body of 
land, containing several thousand arpents, granted 
by the former civil authorities of Louisiana, before 
the transfer to the government of the United States, 
to the inhabitants of the orioinal town of St. Louis, 
and confirmed to said inhabitants by the act of 
Congress of the 13th of June, 1812. For about 
sixty years and more, from the very foundation of 
the town of Laclede, these lands had been used by 
the early inhabitants for pastures, and as the timber 
grew, for cutting hre-wood. Till the beginning of 
the year 1836 this large body of land was waste, 
covered with inidergrowth. In the summer-time it 
offered shelter for desperate, lawless vagabonds, and 
many murders were committed at various points on 



A MEMORIAL TO THE LEGISLATURE. 243 

the road l^etween the city of St. Louis and Caron- 
delet. Thomas M. Dougherty, a judge of the St. 
Louis County Court, was murdered in broad day- 
light, while pausing for a moment under the shade of 
a tree. 

Tlie city authorities, in the year 1835, determined 
to make this valuable domain available. In the year 
1834 I first went into the city government as an 
official, and I was at the head of the city munici- 
pal corporation in 1835, when the city functionaries 
took action in the matter, and when the proper- 
memorial was drawn up, and all the papers in due 
form made out and sent to the Legislature, praying 
for an act of the General Assembly of the State 
of Missouri authorizing the city govei-nment of St. 
Louis to survey, subdivide, and sell the St. Louis 
common. 

At that time party politics ran high. The Leg- 
islature and executive branches of the State govern- 
ment were in the hands of the Jackson, or Demo- 
cratic party ; the Legislature being composed of 
about two-thirds Democrats and one-third Whigs. 
Hugh O'^eil, Esq., was at that time a member of 
the Legislature from St. Louis County, and was at- 
tached to the dominant political party ; and as coming 
from the great city of the State, and of the West^ 



2^ LAFAYETTE PARK. 

he had great weight and influence with his party in 
the General Assenihly. 

The nieniorial on the subject of the St. Louis 
common from tlie city government of St. Louis was, 
as a local matter, referred to the delegation from 
St. Louis County, and fell into the hands of Hugh 
O'lSTeil, who introduced a bill to authorize the city of 
St. Louis to subdivide and sell the common, the pro- 
ceeds of the sale, when made, to be paid into the 
city treasury, and expended and applied afterwards 
in the grading and paving of streets. 

To this proposed plan of Hugh O'^eil of dis- 
posing of the proceeds arising fi*om the sale of the 
common I was bitterly opposed. I took the grounds 
that the common belonged to all the " white inhabi- 
tants '' of the city of St. Louis, and that the proceeds 
of the sale arising therefrom should be divided, half 
and half, Ijetween the city of St. Louis in its corpo- 
rate capacity and the St. Louis public schools ; that 
this would be the most equita])le and beneficial dis- 
position of the property ; that to waste and squander 
the fund from that valuable property in grading and 
paving streets would, in a measure, be throAving it 
away ; whereas, to have the one entire half of the 
moneys arising from the sale of the property given 
al^'^olutely to the pubhc schools, and for the trustees 



OPPOSITION TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 245 

to lend out the money and receive the annnal income 
arising therefrom, would be a blessing to the then ex- 
isting generation, and also to their children and their 
children's children. Mr. O'N^eil was a Catholic in 
religion, and was therefore opposed to the giving of 
any of the proceeds to the public schools ; and said, 
among' other things, that the Catholics would not 
send their children to schools of this character, and 
of course they would not derive any benefit from 
these institutions of learning. 

In the act of the General Assembly authoi'izing 
the sale of this great domain I desired to have it 
specified that one entire half of the proceeds of the 
sale should be given to the Board of Trustees, and 
by them invested as a permanent fund for the use of 
the schools, in order that these fountains of knowl- 
edge should be established in every Avard of the city, 
where the children of all classes and of every de- 
nomination should be permitted to drink, to satisfy 
their thirst for learning, and acquire knowledge with- 
out charge and without price. 

Finding by information and letters from Jefferson 
City that Mr. O'l^eil was violently opposed to the 
plan, I went immediately to Jefferson City. In the 
view which I had taken on this subject I was sup- 
ported by my good friends Edward Bates, Dr. Wil- 



24:6 LAFAYETTE PARK. 

liam Can- Lane, and Jndg-e Marie Philip Leduc. 

The members of the Legislature generally, I found 

when I arrived there, were not inclined to take 

much part in what they considered a merely local 

matter. After spending about two weeks at the seat 

of government, in explaining, entreating, and urging 

upon the members the views and objects sought to be 

accomplished, the act authorizing the sale of the 
common was ultimately passed, with the following 

anion g other pi'o visions : — - 

An act to authorize the sale of the St. Louis common. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri^ 

as folloios : — 

Section 1. At the next general election for the mayor and 
aldermen of the city of St. Louis, * * * each voter shall 
state which of the following modes of disposing- of the proceeds, 
of the said common he prefers : — 

First. That the one- tenth shall go to the Board of the Presi- 
dent and Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools, to be applied 
by them for the support of public schools in said city, etc. 

Second. That the one-fourth shall go to the Board of Presi- 
dent and Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools, to be applied 
by them to the support of public schools in said city, etc. 

Third. That one-half to go to the Board of President and 
Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools, to be applied by them 
to the support of public schools in said city, the balance to be 
paid into the city treasury, to be applied to city [)ur[)oses ; and 
the majority of votes given for either of the said modes shall de- 
cide ; and the proceeds thereof shall be applied accordingly, and 
in no other manner. 

I have quoted so much of the act only as was 



ONE-TENTH OF THE PROCEEDS VOTED. 247 

necessary for this article. Under this law the elec- 
tion was held, and the people voted one-tenth of the 
proceeds of the sale from the common to the pnhlic 
schools, instead of one-half. Still, I was content 
and gratified, as the schools were benefited to the 
extent of more than one hnndred thonsand dollars ; 
and at the polls I nrged npon the votei's to vote one- 
tenth, one-fonrth, or one-half, as they seemed in- 
clined, so as to have the schools benefited as mnch 
as possible. 

Under this act of the Legislatnre the city anthori- 
ties had the commons surveyed and subdivided by 
Charles De Ward, a most accomplished survey oi* and 
civil engineer, who died many years ago. 

On the seventh day of March, 1836, and after 
the subdivision of the common had been made and 
marked off, I sent a messenger for Col. Thoi-nton 
Grimsley, who had been appointed chairman of the 
Committee on Commons in the Board of Aldermen. 
He promptly came to my office. I explained to him 
that I desired him to go out with me to the common, 
and select a piece of land to be reserved as a park, 
or public gi-ound. He joined with me in the measure 
most heartily, and we went down to John Calvei't's 
livery-stable, then situated on the south side of 
Market Street, between Second and Third Streets, 



248 LAFAYETTE PARK. 

got horses, and rode out to and selected the ground 
on which Lafayette Park is now situated. We rode 
all over the land, which was covered with underhrush 
of young hickory and oak bushes, and in some places 
with patches of hazel and suinac bushes. The view 
of the city, in the distance, from these beautiful 
grounds was at that time charming indeed. 

Col. Grimsley was a military man, and had 
organized a horse-troop, of which he was commander ; 
and he remarked that the. land we had selected as 
a public ground would serve as a fine place to ma- 
noeuvre his cavalry, and he proposed to call it the 
"Public Parade Ground," by which name it went 
for many years. I told him, at the time, I did not 
care what he called it, but that it should be kept as 
a park and public ground for all the people of the 
city of St. Louis forever. 

In pui-suance of the selection of the ground so 
made, the following ordinance was introduced and 
passed : — 

An ordinance concerning the common. 

Be it ordained by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City 
of St. Louis, as follows : — 
*********** 

Sect. 2. The two avenues east and west of the park, extend- 
ing from Park to Lafayette Avenue, shall be one hundred and 
twenty feet wide, and shall be called and known : the eastern 



THE ORIGIN OF LAFAYETTE PARK. 249 

one by the name of Mississippi, the western one by the name of 
Missouri Avenue. 

The square formed and bounded by Lafayette, Park, Missouri, 
and Mississi[)pi Avenues shall be reserved as a public square, 
subject to such rules and regulations as the mayor and Board of 
Aldermen may from time to time make in relation thereto. 

Passed by the Board of Aldermen, March 21, 1836. 

James P. Spencer, President. 

Approved: March 25, 1836. 

John F. Darby, Mayor. 

This was the origin of Lafayette Park. We met 
with great opposition to the measnre in getting the 
ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen, because 
many members had set their hearts upon buying 
these lands at the public sale, using as one argu- 
ment that the city government was authorized only 
to sell the land, and had no authority whatever to 
dedicate it as a park ; to which I replied, that we 
would take the responsibility of appropriating and 
using the land as a park, whether or not we had 
authority for it, and then, by determined action, we 
beat down all opposition and consummated the 
project. 

It had been a favorite measure with me to have 
public parks set apart for the use of the city. I had 
accordingly l)argained for and bought, in the first 
year of my mayoralty, subject to the ratification of 
the Board of Aldermen, the square of ground, then 



250 LAFAYETTE PAKK. 

vacant and unimproved, bounded east by Fourth 
Street, west by Fifth Street, north by St. Charles 
Street, and south by Locust Street, for the sum 
of fifteen thousand dollars, which piece of ground 
is worth to-day a million and a half of dollars, 
independent of all improvements. I also bought 
the shp of ground, then vacant and unimproved, 
between Fourth and Fifth Streets, extending to 
Chouteau Avenue from Cerre Street, for the sum 
of two thousand dollars. The Board of Aldermen 
promptly rejected both propositions to purchase ; the 
first, for the reason assigned, that the land was too 
far up town. They took this action notwithstanding 
the fact that we had at the time a hundred thousand 
dollars cash in the city treasury. In behalf of the 
city I had, as mayor, just previously negotiated 
with Samuel Wiggins a loan of one hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, at six per cent par. 'No loan 
has ever been made by the city of St. Louis on as 
favorable terms. 

There are some incidents connected with my trip 
to Jefferson City at the time referred to, illustra- 
tive of backwoods living, and of the habits and man- 
ners of frontier life forty or fifty years ago. 

It took me three days to make the trip from 
St. Louis to Jefferson City on horseback, crossing 



ICE-BOUND ON THE OSAGE. 251 

the Gasconade River at what was then called the 
town of Monnt Sterling, the former and first coun- 
ty-seat of Gasconade County. At that time there 
was no ferry, and I was compelled to ford the 
river, which I did by holding on to the pommel of 
my saddle and holding my legs up out of the water, 
which came half-way up the saddle-skirts. 

While at the seat of government, snow fell, on 
the 8th of January, to the depth of fifteen or 
eighteen inches, after which the weather turned in- 
tensely cold ; so that when I reached the Osage 
River on my return trip, the liver was full of float- 
ing ice, making it hazardous to attempt to cross in 
a flat-boat, and the men of the ferry utteidy refused 
to undertake the trip. After waiting several hours, 
without any prospect of crossing, I rode through 
the woods, where there had been no road opened, 
and toiled through the deep snow several miles up 
the bottom lands on the margin of the Osage River, 
and stayed all night with another ferryman, named 
Shibley. Early the next morning, with the assist- 
ance of some men, he ferried me across that beautiful 
river. 

In travelling through Gasconade County, I came 
to a small clearing in the woods, and a human 
habitation occupied by a man by the name of Skaggs. 



252 LAFAYETTE PARK. - 

The house was built of logs, cut from the timl)er 
on the ground, and was about sixteen or eighteen 
feet square. The hero of the backwoods castle, 
before building his house, had cut down a large 
white-oak tree about two feet and a half in diam- 
eter, leaving the stump about two feet high. Around 
this white-oak stump the man of the woods had 
built his house. About this stump were placed 
some puncheons, as a floor ; and on the inside of the 
chimney and jambs of the flre-place were venison 
hams, and some carcasses of deer. The man himself 
was clothed in buckskin breeches and hunting-shirt, 
with a coon-skin cap on as a head-dressing. This 
knight of the frontier castle was at dinner, using the 
stump as his table. With the most generous hospi- 
tality he addressed me, and said, " Stranger, won't 
you set up and skin a tater? " I joined him at the 
'Hable." He was a squatter sovereign, in the true 
sense of that term. I complimented him on the 
pretty piece of land which he had ; to which he re- 
plied, " Yes, it did very well." "But," he added, 
after a pause, " I'm getting scrouged out ; the neigh- 
bors are getting too thick about me ; I'll have to 
move." He seemed sad for a moment, and then con- 
tined : "1 did very well as long as I had nobody 
within fifteen or twenty miles of me ; but that drot- 



IN THE SOLITUDES. 253 

ted fellow, Jones, moved in last summer and settled 
on the creek about seven miles above me, and he's 
begmnhig to ' skeer ' the deer away." 

The tree from which this stump had been cut, one 
would judge from its size to have been at least three 
hundred years old. And there are few travellers, I 
venture to say, that can boast of having eaten from 
a table that had been " set," as this one had been, 
say three hundred years. 

It was the charm of the deep, still forest that 
made Boone enjoy more pleasure in the woods alone 
than when surrounded by civilized society. I had 
seen the same effect produced even upon men of cul- 
ture and of education, such as Fontenelle, Pilcher, 
Dripps, and other mountaineers and trappers that I 
have known. 

Having made a hard day's ride, extending through 
" Galloway's Prairie," and down through ''Jake's 
Prairie,'' in Gasconade County, in the severe cold, 
and when I began to have some apprehensions about 
finding a human habitation in which to seek shelter 
for the night, my heart was gladdened at seeing far 
ahead in the distance a column of smoke rising above 
the horizon. And — 



(,i 



I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curl'd 
Above the tree- tops, that a cabin was near ; 

I said, if there's peace to be found in this world, 
The soul that is humble might seek for it here." 



254 LAFAYETTE PARK. 

I arrived about nightfall at the house of Mr. 

E , upon the head-waters of the Red Oak fork of 

the Bourbeuse River, still on the confines of Gascon- 
ade County ; the big log-fire of the habitation being 
most acceptable. It was a log house with only one 
room, about sixteen feet square, raised upon blocks of 
wood at the four corners, some three feet from the 
ground, and with no underpinning under the building. 
The man of the house was a widower, with four 
small children on his hands, the youngest about two 
years old and the oldest about eight or ten years. In 
addition to these there were four stout men, neighbors 
or acquaintances, — making in all ten human beings to 
sleep in that one room, in which was but the one small 
bed. The weather being intensely cold, the hogs 
had piled up in a bed under the floor, to get what 
little heat they could from the base of the hearth 
and the large log-fire above in the fire-place. These 
hogs kept up their squealing and grunting all night 
long. I had tried to make myself agreeable in con- 
versation while sitting around the huge log-fire, be- 
fore going to bed, l)y talking to the gentlemen in the 
room. After supper, and when the time came for 
retiring, the landlord said to me, ''Stranger, you'll 
sleep with me in the bed with the children." Having 
drawn off my boots, and divested myself of my coat 
and vest, I crawled into the bed and rolled up next 



NUMEROUS BEDFELLOWS. 255 

the wall, with all my other apparel on. The gentle- 
man of the house then packed the two larger chil- 
dren in the bed, with their heads to the foot and their 
feet extending upward toward the head of the bed. 
He next took the front of the bed, and piled in the 
two smaller children between himself and myself, — 
making in all six different specimens of humanity in 
the one bed. The four stout men then lay down on 
the floor, on some bed-clothing spread out there, — 
their clothes, excepting their shoes, all on, — with 
their feet to the big log-fire. In the night the two- 
year-old child began to kick and squall. The father 
attempted to pacify him by saying, " Hush, Tommy, 
hush ; the man '11 ketch you." Which made the little 
fellow more uproarious and noisy than ever. He 
kicked and floundered violently, the old man bawling 
out all the while, ''Ketch him, man! Ketch him, 
man ! " I bore these outrageous flings, if not of for- 
tune, of the little fellow's heels, with the becoming 
humility of a primitive Christian. Once or twice dur- 
ing that cold, dark night, the sleej^ei-s on the floor, 
tired of lying on one side, would cry out, "All turn," 
and shift positions. In this short sketch I have en- 
deavored to paint the picture from nature alone, and 
give the coloring from the lights and shades of real 
life. I was relieved when daylight appeared. 



256 LAFAYETTE PARK. 

One sreat characteristic of these backwoods f'ron- 
tier people was the universal kindness and hospitahty 
with which the traveller was always received. The 
horse I rode was a fine, spirited animal, and dashed 
on reg-ardless of fatigue, as if he fully appreciated 
the severity of the weather, — his mouth and nostrils 
being- white with frost from his breathing the keen, 
sharp air. 

Many a weary mile, " solitary and alone," over 
the hard, frozen, crusted snow, through such trials, 
suffering, and exposure as here described, it was 
that I went, because I had undertaken the self-im- 
posed task of trying to serve the St. Louis public 
schools. I was in a measure buoyed up with the 
enthusiasm and pride which I felt in believing that 
but for my exertions the public schools would not 
have derived any benefit whatever from the ''St. 
Louis common." And of all the institutions that St. 
Louis can justly boast, the proudest monument of 
her greatness and glory is that of her public schools, at 
which fifty thousand children and more receive daily in- 
struction, without money and without price, — wliich, 
like the great luminary of heaven, ''shines equally 
upon all." It has been printed and said that the 
first school-houses erected by the St. Louis Board of 
PubUc Schools were from funds derived from the 



THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 257 

sale of the " St. Louis eominoii," and 1 am proud 
that it was through my exertions that these wei'e 
obtained. i 



The St. Louis University, as an institution of 
learning, deserves notice. As early as the 10th of 
March, 1820, the two squares of ground on which 
the university is situated were donated for a college 
by Jeremiah Conner to Bishop Du Bourg, the then 
Catholic bishop of St. Louis. The grounds were at 
that time unenclosed, and there was an open space 
extending from about where the southern line of 
Green Street now is, to the south boundary line of 
Maj. Christy's meadow fence and the south line of 
St. Charles Street, where Judge Lucas's enclosure 
then stood. The land was a lich, black soil, flat, 
and with hardly any drainage ; and from this cause 
there were many places in which teams not in- 
fi-equently mired down. It was the principal high- 
way west, leading from the city of St. Louis. At 
that time Market Street did not extend further west 
than Eighth Street. Chouteau's Mill-pond extended 
across where Market Street now runs, and, in a meas- 
vu*e, even up to Chestnut Street. Beyond Chouteau's 
Pond there was no road opened until about the year 

17 



258 THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 

1829, all west of the pond up to that period bemg 
covered with a gTowth of black-jacks, hickory, hazel 
brush, and sumac bushes. About where Mr. Peper's 
tobacco and cotton warehouse now is, and extending- 
to near about where Thirteenth Street is at present, 
was located a quarter race-track, where the early 
French settlers used to run their Canadian ponies. 

]S^othing' was done toward erecting the buildings 
of the university till the year 1828, wd^en Father Van 
Quickenbourne, a Jesint. pi'iest, took the matter in 
hand, and commenced soliciting funds. He was zeal- 
ous and indefatigable in the work he had undertaken. 
It may not be out of place to mention an incident con- 
nected with the reverend father's efforts. A dinner- 
party was given by Maj. Thomas Biddle, at which I 
had the honor of being a guest. The dinner was over, 
and the company were sitting at the table in pleasant 
conversation, when a servant announced to Maj. Bid- 
die that a gentleman in the parlor desired to see him. 
The major desired the company to keep their seats, 
and excused himself for a moment, and soon re- 
turned to the ta])le, l)ringing with him Father Van 
Quickenbourne, who was introduced to the company 
and took his seat at the table. The reverend father 
soon made known his business, which was that of 
askin<i;- subscriptious to l^juild the '' college,'' as it 



RAPIDITY OF ITS co:mplktion. 259 

was first called. He promised that any gentleman 
who subserihed should not be called upon for the 
amount of his subscription till the proposed edifice 
should have reached the second story. Some gen- 
tleman good-humoredly remarked, "On these terms 
we can all subscribe, for I think it doubtful whether 
the proposed structure will ever reach that height." 
The gentlemen all laughed, the reverend solicitor of 
funds joining in, and presently said that he would 
very readily take the subscriptions on those condi- 
tions. The work was proceeded with, and prose- 
cuted most vigorously b}^ the revei*end fathers, and 
the building was finished and occupied in the year 
1829. Since then the whole block of ground has 
been built over with most costly and stately edifices, 
including the elegant St. Xavier's Church, attached 
to the university. The small seven-by-nine-inch 
panes of glass in the first buildings, and the large, 
splendid, fine plate-glass in the recent buildings be- 
speak the different eras in which the structures were 
reared. In this institution of learning, still in a 
flourishing condition, many young men in this city, 
as well as others from foreign countries, have been 
educated. Some have won their way to positions of 
honor and distinction in the halls of Congress, in leg- 
islative assemblies, and in judicial stations. It was 



r 



260 THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 

amono- the earliest, and deserves now to be ranked 
as aniona' the first establishments for edneational 
pnrposes in the valley of the Mississippi. It i^ fur- 
nished with a very large an'd extensive hbrary. 

The St. Louis University is a Catholic institntion, 
and has consequently always been under the direc- 
tion and control of the holy fathers. It w^as the 
good fortune of the writer to have known many of 
the learned and reverend men associated with this 
classic estabUshment, favorably, intimately, and well ; 
particularly the good Father De Smet, and Fathers 
Verhagen, Ellet, Carroll, and Yandervelde. Many 
a time and oft has he been honored with invitations, 
and has dined at this institution of learning with 
these cultivated men, together with Bishop Rosatti, 
Col. Benton, the Belgian minister to the United 
States, and other distinguished guests, where the 
most generous hosi)itality was dispensed, and rich, 
intellectual, and highly refined conversation was in- 
dulged in. There are, however, one or two incidents 
connected with the grounds on which the university 
is located, and of the institution itself, that possess 
a sufficient historical interest to be recited. 

When Gen. Ashley started on his Yellowstone 
expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in March, 1823, 
from some cause the powdei* could not be got ready 



FATAL RECKLESSNESS. 261 

to be put on board the boat. The l)oat, with all the 
men on board, left here on the twelfth day of March, 
1823. After the boat had left, three Frenchmen w ere 
engaged to take the powder in a cai't to St. Charles, 
where they were to meet the boat the next day. 
The pow^der, amounting to about five hundred 
pounds, was put up in large kegs, or half-baiTels, 
and, without being covered with canvas, w^as loaded 
into a cart, and the Frenchmen started. They left 
St. Louis early in the morning, stopping at the 
tavei-n-house of Mr. Joseph Labarge, a Frenchman, 
on the west side of Third Street between Market 
and Walnut Streets, to take their morning dram ; 
after which they lighted their pipes. Frenchman- 
like, took their seats on the half -barrels of powder, 
and started. When they had reached the point 
where the southern gate opening into the present 
college grounds, on Washington Avenue, now^ is, a 
tremendous explosion occurred, and the three unfor- 
tunate men were thrown tw^o or three hundred feet 
into the air, like so many sky-rockets. 

Col. Benton's mouth-piece and organ at the time, 
the St. Louis Enquirer^ 'which was the only news- 
paper that gave any account of the disaster, said the 
explosion Avas tremendous, and produced a concus- 
sion similar to that of a slight earthquake. One of 



262 THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 

the men, it was said, l^reathed after his body de- 
scended to the gronnd. The men were all bui-nt 
black, their bodies mutilated, their clothes torn from 
their persons. It is supposed that the motion of the 
cart shook some grains of powder ont of the barrels, 
to wdiich fire was communicated from the pipes of 
the nnf ortunate smokers ; for none were left to tell 
the tale, and the careless men who lost their lives 
never knew what hurt them. At the time the 
calamity occnri-ed, an Irishman named Daniel Mur- 
phy was about a hundred yards behind the cart, 
and was hallooing and beckoning to the men in the 
cart to stop and let him get in and ride. The explo- 
sion so shocked and stunned this poor fellow that 
he seemed to be stupefied, for when he was asked by 
persons running to the scene of the disaster, he 
could give no rational account of the calamity. 
Everything pertaining to the cart was shattered into 
atoms. The iron tire which lay on the ground w^as 
the only part of the cart left whole. At that time 
Mr. Sullivan Blood lived on the east side of Fourth 
Street, where the Everett House now stands. He 
had then been but recently appointed by William 
Carr Lane, mayor of St. Louis, to the much-sought- 
for and desirable position of high constable of the 
city. He was an aspiring young man, just fresh 



MR. BLOOD WITNESSES THE DISASTER. 263 

from the Green Mountains of Vermont, and anxious 
to show his efficiency as a pubhc officer. He was 
accustomed to early rising, and was out on the door- 
steps l^efore sun-up, — wishing thus to impress upon 
the pubhc mind his early and correct training, as a 
worthy representative from the ' ' land of steady 
habits." His house shook as with an earthquake, 
and in the distance he saw the bodies of the three 
unfortunate men flying through the air. The long 
distance from Fourth Street, where Mr. Blood stood, 
to where the explosion took place was one entire 
open plain or space, with Judge Lucas's meadow 
extending on the one side as far as Seventh and St. 
Charles Streets, and Maj. Christy's fence on the 
other. Mr. Blood, with his accustomed promptness, 
hastened to the spot where the disaster occurred. It 
was some time before he could learn the real cause 
of the mishap ; subsequently he held an inquest 
over the dead bodies, and had them buried. One 
remarkable circumstance comiected with the occur- 
rence was, that neither of the horses attached to the 
vehicle was killed, although it was said the hair on 
both the animals was nearly all burnt off. 

Sullivan Blood, the worthy gentleman named 
above, died ni ]N^oveml3er, 1875, in the city where 
he had lived so long, and where he had filled so 



2G4 DANIEL WEBSTEK. 

many positions of honor and responsibility. He 
luid reached the advanced age of more than fonr 
score years. 



There is an event connected with the St. Lonis 
University which is worth being mentioned histori- 
cally. It was the visit and reception of Daniel 
AYebster at that seat of learning in the yeai* 1837. 
The distingnished statesman came to St. Lonis in 
the snnuner of that year, on Avhat was considered a 
political tour. The Whig party, to which he be- 
longed, made jji'oper arrangements to entertain the 
gentleman in a manner worthy of his high character 
and the eminent position which he held in the public 
eye. It was my fortune to be at the head of the 
city government, and I was also attached to the same 
politi(-al party, and knew personally and well the 
great orator, having formed his acrpiaintance at 
Washington some years before. I had corresponded 
with him as a political friend. The committee of 
arrangements seemed to throw upon the mayor, from 
his position, the duty of showing the distinguished 
guest attentions. It was with great pride and 
pleasure that I devoted much time to Mr. Webster ; 
went with him evervwhere, and did all that could be 



HIS AKRIVAL IN ST. LOUIS. 265 

done to make his visit pleasant and agreeable. He 
was accompanied in his visit here by his wife and 
daughter. 

Mr. Webstei* arrived here on a steamlioat from 
Louisville, Kentucky. It was, of course, before 
the days of telegraphs, and correspondence was 
carried on by the old, slow, stage-coach conveyances. 
The Democratic newspaper, the Argus ^ made merry 
at the expense of the Whigs, about the movements 
and arrival of Mr. Webster, and gave out, amongst 
other things, that the Whig committee had had a 
man employed to go eveiy day upon the steeple of 
the Cathedral church building, and there keep a sharp 
lookout for the steamboat on which Mr. Webster 
was expected. The steamboat, with the statesman 
on ])oard, arrived about three or four o'clock in the 
afternoon. The committee of reception soon I'an 
down to the wharf, and cheered, shouted, threw up 
their hats, fired off cannon, and made other demon- 
strations of joy. A large crowd soon collected. 
Two large six-pounder brass cannon were being 
fired off, across the Mississippi River, as rapidly as 
possible, and the discharge of the great guns Avere 
echoed back fi*om the Illinois shore ; and the whole 
multitude was moved to the highest state of excite- 
ment. 



266 DANIEL WEBSTEK. 

A carriage was soon procured, and the great man 
and his wife and daughter placed therein, and con- 
ducted to the ^N^ational Hotel, on the south-west 
corner of Market and Third Streets (where the 
St. Clair Hotel now is), then the finest hotel in the 
city, where I'ooms had been prepared for them. A 
large crowd of people followed the gentleman to the 
hotel, and kept up a loud shouting and cheering in 
the streets. At last Mr. Webster appeared on the 
steps of the side door leading from Market Street, 
and addressed the multitude, in substance, as fol- 
lows : — 

''Gentlemen: In coming up the Mississippi 
River to-day, about twenty miles below your flour- 
ishing city, I passed the mouth of a stream called 
the Meramec. It is a name sacred and dear to me. 
I was born upon the banks of the Merrimack in 'New 
Hampshire, and whether a man be born upon the 
banks of the Meramec of Missouri or the Merrimack 
of New Hampshire, I am proud to meet him as a 
fellow-countryman, and greet him with the right 
hand of friendship and fellowship," etc. 

He spoke about ten miinites, the large number of 
people there assembled shouting and applauding and 
cheering most vociferously all the while. 

My good friends, the holy fathers and professors 



REUEFTION AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 267 

at the university had expressed a desire to me to see 
Mr. Webster. The fact was made known by me to 
the renowned senator, and the next day, and the hour 
of eleven o'clock A. m. (I think it Avas), named for 
making the visit. At the appointed time we drove 
up to the classic building ; all the learned professors 
and reverend gentlemen of the university, amongst 
whom were Fathers Verhagen, Vandervelde, Ellet, 
De Smet, Carroll, and Van JN^ash, with all the students 
in the institution, assembled in the large library-room 
of the building. The eminent statesman was brought 
m and introduced to the assembled body. So soon 
as he was seated, one of the students, Mr. Oscar W. 
Collet, then in the bloom of youth, — the same 
gentleman who now carries a somewhat venerable 
aspect, and wears a patriarchal long white beard, 
and circulates daily within the purlieus and precmcts 
of the court-house in St. Louis, — stepped forward 
and made a very handsome address to the honored 
visitor. It was a fine piece of composition, and most 
appropriately and happily delivered. When he had 
concluded, ''Mr. AYebster arose," as the newspaper 
reporters would say, '' under evident emotion.'^ He 
made the proper acknowledgment for the compliment 
paid to him, and said, among other things, that these 
scenes brought to his mind ' ' his school-boy days and 



268 DANIEL WEBSTER 

remembrances, when he himself was struggling- for 
intellectual culture and improvement." Then tuni- 
ing to the i-everend fathers, he said, " The sculptor 
and the painter worked upon marble and upon can- 
vas, materials that were perishable, but to them was 
given the high privilege of working upon that which 
was immortal." The address was short, but was 
most happy and felicitous, and such in mannei* and 
language as could have been delivered only by Daniel 
Webster. 

The making of that speech to Mr. Webster by 
Mr. Collet, on the occasion referred to, will be looked 
back to by his children's children, in after times, no 
doubt, as one of the proudest events of his life, and 
with the same heartfelt, gratulating satisfaction that 
the great-great-grandchildren and descendants of the 
last one of the little girls who strewed flowers before 
Washington when crossing the bridge at Trenton, 
are accustomed now to boast of their maternal an- 
cestor's association with that most thrilling and soul- 
stirring welcome to the father of his country. 

The next day Mr. Webster was to deliver his 
great political speech to the main body of the peo- 
ple, — the only set speech which the man of world- 
wide fame and renown ever delivered west of the Mis- 
sissippi Kivei". The place selected for the occasion 



A NOTABLE GATHERING. 269 

was about a square west of the present Polytechnic 
buildmg, m a black-jack grove, in a slight depression 
of the ground, which made a sort of drain or ravine 
toward Chouteau's Pond, as it then existed. An 
immense long table was spread in the grove, with all 
manner of good things of this world, eatable and 
drinkable. About two o'clock p. m., the committee 
of arrangements sent a splendid carriage, wliich had 
been prepared to take the great oratoi* ont to the 
grounds, and I was sent for at my office to go to the 
hotel and accompany the great man. 

Col. Charles Keemle had been appointed and was 
acting as grand marshal of the day. A great crowd 
of people had assembled and filled up the streets all 
along Market, Second, and Third Streets, and amidst 
the strains of fine martial music and the firing of can- 
non, the intellectual and gifted man of the age was 
escorted to the place of entertainment by about fifteen 
thousand people, Avho filled up the streets, in solid 
phalanx, from curb-stone to curb-stone. 

As the company sat down to the table, five or six 
gentlemen in black gowns, from the St. Louis Univer- 
sity, appeared on the ground. As jjresiding head of 
the banqnet, I ordered places prepared for the venerable 
fathers at the table, and they were accordingly seated 
at the festive board, ^o one who witnessed it can 



270 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

V 

ever forget with what deep and ri vetted attention 
these reverend and learned men listened to every word 
that was uttered by the captivating and powerful 
speaker. This was the only occasion on which I ever 
saw any of the reverend gentlemen attend a political 
meeting ; they came to hear the speech of the great 
Mr. Webster. Nearly all of St. Louis's wealthy 
citizens vied with each other to see who could do Mr. 
Webster the most honor. These generous marks of 
hospitality manifested toward the noble statesman 
were exceedingly gratifying to his feelings. He 
afterwards spoke to me of the great pleasure his visit 
to St. Louis had given him, and with what fond re- 
collections he remembered the generous hospitality of 
her warm-hearted citizens. 

Having introduced the great orator into this 
sketch, it is but right he should make a proper exit. 
A committee of citizens from Alton, Illinois, of 
which the Hon. John Marshall Krum was then 
mayor, came down to St. Louis to take the distin- 
guished traveller to that growing place of business. 
As the steamboat on which he left for Alton 
pushed out from the wharf into the swift current of 
the Mississippi River, " a large number of true and 
faithful Whigs,'- who had accompanied him on board 
and taken leave of him, came off the boat and stood 



HIS KECEPTION AT* ALTON. 271 

on the bank till the boat had started up the river. 
When the departing visitor made his appearance on 
the guards of the steamer, and made his last bow, 
the whole multitude on shore gave him three hearty 
cheers. 

The mayor of Alton was a Democrat in politics, 
and therefore could not be expected to further Mr. 
Webster's political aspirations. Such, however, was 
his high admiration for the splendid abilities, and the 
glory and renown he had added to his country, that 
he determined Alton should give the illustrious 
statesman a worthy reception. 

Alton, at that time, had no cannon to fire off in 
honor of the important event. The mayor of Alton, 
to meet the emergency, had previously, with much 
prudent care and forethought, had a large hole 
drilled into the cliff of rocks on the bank of the 
Mississippi Rivei', into which he had caused two or 
three kegs of powder to be poured and well tamped ; 
and when the steamboat with the great orator and 
statesman on board reached the wharf of that city, a 
person who had been stationed on the cliff for the 
purpose set fire to the fuse and touched off the 
match. It caused a tremendous explosion. This 
was the heaviest and biggest gun fired off in honor 
of Daniel Webster on his whole Western tour. 

When the great man landed at Alton, his Honor 



272 BISHOP Du BOUFvG. 

the mayor of Alton, be it said, — the Hon. John 
Marshall Kruni, with that same ''one constable of 
Alton " '' who had run up the liill and run away with 
the mayor of Alton, when Lovejoy was ^killed," — 
stood by him on this interesting occasion, and assisted 
him to do the honors of the town. 

A large concourse of people had assembled to 
welcome the eminent man. The town was small, 
and the mayor, most graciously and with a generous 
hospitality, surrendered his own spacious rooms and 
apartments in the hotel, to Mr. Webster and his 
family. The remark that the "mayor and one 
constable had run up the hill and run away'' (a 
quotation from the newspapers of the times) , when 
Lovejoy was miu'dered by the mob, is not made dis- 
paragingly or offensively toward the worthy ' ' bur- 
gomaster" of that honorable corporation at the time, 
but because the city government had not then the 
means of furnishing a sufficient police force to 
prevent the riotous and lawless acts committed by the 
mob on that occasion. 



As Bishop Du Bourg has been named, it may not 
be out of place to say one word more concerning 
that venerable prelate. He was the first Catholic 



AN INTERESTING CEREMONY. 273 

bishop that ever resided in St. Louis. Under his 
direction the first cathedral in this city, on the 
corner of Second and Market Streets, was built. 

On Palm Sunday, in the year 1823, he performed 
the ceremony of blessing the St. Louis Guards, 
a volunteer military company then just raised and or- 
ganized in the city of St. Louis, and under the 
command of Capt. George H. Kennerly. The 
church was brilliantly illuminated with candles, the 
bright glare of the lights on the bright, glistening 
armor of the military, and nodding plumes ; the 
military step and fine martial music of the company, 
as they marched up the middle aisle in front of the 
altar of the crowded church, — had a grand and most 
imposing and brilliant effect. 

In the year 1826, the venerable Bishop Louis 
Du Bourg was promoted to the see of Montauban, in 
France, by his Holiness the pope, where he died some 
years afterwards. He was succeeded in the bishopric 
of St. Louis b}^ Bishop Rosatti, who continued 
bishop till the time of his death, although his death 
took place in the West Indies about the year 1842 or 
1813. He was a most amiable and good man, loved, 
honored, and respected by every one that kncAV him. 
He was succeeded in the bishopric of St. Louis b}^ 
the present learned and finished scholar, Peter Rich- 
ie 



274 FATHER De SMET. 

ard Kenrick, arcbiepiscopiil see of St. Louis, about 
the year of Bishop Rosatti's death. A man of great 
erudition, pious, modest, and unobtrusive, meek and 
imostentatious in his manner, he seems to have de- 
voted himself to his sacred and holy cahing- with a 
singleness and steadiness of purpose that few men 
have ever equalled and none have surpassed. I have 
known him most intimately, and have had many busi- 
ness transactions with both of these distinguished 
and venerable prelates. • 

When the venerable and distinguished archbishop 
returned from a visit to Europe, some years ago, he 
received (unsought for) from the good people of the 
city of St. Louis a spontaneous and welcome recep- 
tion, such as had never been awarded to any private 
individual in an unofficial governmental position in 
this country. 



Of the good Father De Smet, with whom I was 
acquainted, I may say, on terms of personal relations 
and friendship for nearly half a century, and who 
now sleeps that sleep "which' knows no waking," 
in the beautiful valley of the Florissant, — that 
"Valley of Flowei's," — I could say many things of 
interest, which I have learned from his own lips, — 



THE FATHERS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 275 

his perils, adventures, and hardships in the Rocky 
Mountains, and his travels by sea and land ; his pil- 
grimage of hundreds of thousands of miles, endur- 
ing cold, hunger, exposure, and fatigue ; living and 
sleeping in the open air, without the habitation of 
man, or tents to shelter him ; spending whole winters 
in Indian lodges with the savages, and subsisting on 
dried buffalo-meat, and tish, and dog-meat, without 
bread or salt, — but it would take up too much space 
in this present essay. 

Of these reverend fathers, about whom 1 have 
spoken as having been connected with the St. Louis 
University, one observation concerning them is 
worthy of remark. They all came of good families, 
were well bred and well educated, many of them 
having been born to wealth and affluence ; and yet, 
with all these advantages, when they were young 
men, just entering upon the career of life, they re- 
nounced the ease and comfort with which they were 
blessed, and took upon themselves the " voio of 
cliastity, poverttj, and ohedience^''^ and went forth to 
do ''the will of Him" who sent them. And the 
whole journey of human life seems to have been 
devoted to the manner of life and calling they had 
taken upon themselves, with a steadiness and deci- 
sion of purpose very rarely surpassed by men of 
any vocation. 



276 • WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

This inuch luay be said historically of these men 
of learning, withont any regard or reference to creeds, 
dogmas, oi* tenets, Avhich have no connection what- 
ever with the sn])ject of these brief historical inci- 
dents. 



Washington Sqnare is a part of the Choutean 

^'Mill Tract,'' nnder the orio-inal «:rant made to 

Laclede, and contains abont six acres of gronnd, 

])()nght by the city of St. Lonis from Thomas F. 

^ Smith, by deed bearing date the 1st of December, 

1840. 
^ Maj. Thomas F. Smith was an officer of tlie 
' United States army at that time. He was a native 
of Cxeorgia, and had received his military edncation 
imder the government, and had, 1 ])elieve, gradnated 
at West Point. While in the service, as a captain, he 
had been stationed at Prairie dn (Jhien, Pock Island, 
and other military posts in the ^orth-West. He 
had mari-ied Miss Fmilie Chontean, the vonnoest 
danghter of Col. Angnste Chontean, the friend and 
companion of Laclede, and one who had assisted 
Laclede in the laying ont and fonnding the town of 
St. Ijonis. Miss C Chontean was a lady of mnch 
beanty and of many acconijjlishments. 

When the (liontean Mill Tract was snlxlivided 



UNDER THE NEW CITY CHARTER. 277 

and partitioned off among- the heirs of that very 
large and extensive estate, in the year 1832, Maj. 
Thomas F. Smith was absent in the service of his 
country, in the BUickhawk war, and could not 
attend the subdivision of the real estate then made, 
a part of wliich was allotted to the various heirs, 
and a portion was sold at public sale. Gabriel S. 
Chouteau on that occasion i-epresented and attended 
to the interest of his brother-in-law, Maj. Smith, 
and bought this square of ground in his own name, 
afterwards making a deed of conveyance in due 
form of law to Maj. Thomas F. Smith. 

At the April election in the year 1840, I was 
honored by being elected, for the fourth term, mayor 
of the city of St. Louis, under the new city charter, 
then for the first time brought into operation. The 
City Council consisted of two boards, one called the 
Board of Aldermen and the othei" the Board of 
Delegates, the legislative power of the city govern- 
ment before that time having- been vested in one 
board alone, called the Board of Aldermen. So 
soon as I w^as inaugurated as mayor, I, in an othcial 
connnunication to the Council, again lu'ged upon that 
body the propriety and absolute necessity of pur- 
chasing public parks and squares while land was yet 
low and could be obtained. This had ahvays been 



278 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

a favorite project with me. Five years before, as 
already mentioned, I liad failed of snccess in my 
efforts, although I succeeded in having Lafayette 
Square established. The comnuinication from the 
mayor was refei*red by the Board of Delegates to a 
select committee, of which (xeorge K. Budd, Esq., 
then a delegate, was chairman. 

From April till fall, Mr. Budd tried to purchase 
a piece of gi'ound for a pul^lic square. He com- 
plained that people asked too much for their ground, 
and made a report, saying he was unable to purchase 
any piece of land suitable for the purposes intended. 
After this report had been made, I saw Maj. Smith 
and bargained for the land now known as ''Wash- 
ington Square." The price was twenty-five thousand 
dollars, to be paid in twenty-five city bonds of one 
thousand dollars each, payable in fifty years, and 
bearing five per cent interest, payable semi-annually, 
for which coupons were to be attached. The con- 
tract was reduced to writing. 

I had, fortunately, the most intimate relations 
of personal friendship with Maj. Smith. I was his 
lawyer, and was on friendly terms with Col. Chou- 
teau's famil}^, — a visitoi* at the house as well as at 
the houses of their i-elations. Maj. Smith assigned, 
amongst other i-easons, as a cause for selling the 



PRELIMINARIES OF THE PURCHASE. 279 

ground, that his wife's health was bad, and he 
wanted to send her to Cuba for the winter, a trip 
which would be attended with considerable expense, 
as she would have to take with her a number of 
servants, such as she had always been accustomed to, 
from lier wealth and distinguished position in society. 
Besides, he would need some money, he said, to 
furnish his costly and elegant residence, then in 
course of construction on Seventh Street. But for 
these reasons, he assured me he would not sell the 
lot at all. However, the terms were fixed and the 
absolute sale agreed to, and the contract for the same 
signed in writing. I went immediately to see some 
of the members of the Council, and informed them 
of 'the purchase; and meeting with Mr. Budd, in- 
formed him that I had made the purchase, and 
requested him to introduce an ordinance to authorize 
the issuing of the bonds, as he was chairman of the 
select committee. I was going down Main Street to 
the City Hall, then located over the old market- 
house on Front Street, where the stores known as the 
''City Buildings" now are, when I met Mr. Budd 
coming up Main Street, on the west side, between 
Chestnut and Pine Streets, directly in front of Avhere 
Judge Marie P. Leduc then had his office. I re- 
turned with Mr. Budd to my office, and made 



280 WASHINGTON SQUAKE. 

suggestions with regard to the ordinance provisions, 
so as to conform to the contract and the terms of 
sale. Mr. Bndd was greatly pleased that the pur- 
chase had been made ; and I admonished him that the 
matter would have to be managed cautiously and 
prudently, otherwise the City Council might, perhaps, 
refuse to pass the ordinance to authorize the issuing 
of the bonds, and the purchase might possibly fall 
through, in like manner as when I had made the pur- 
chase of the two pieces of ground before. T gave 
Mr. Budd a letter of introduction to Maj. Smith, 
and requested that he should go around and see him 
personally. The next day Maj. Smith came to my 
office, and said to me, with some excitement, 
''Darby, I won't sell that lot at all." ''Why," 
said I, "Major, what's the matter?" Said he, 
' ' You have sent an Abolitionist to me to see about 
carrying out the trade we'd agreed upon, — a fellow 
who wants to put a negro on an equality with a 
white man." The major's manner and language 
were quite excited, and he denounced Abolitionism 
and Abolitionists in the most violent language and 
in the bitterest and most unmeasured terms. I tried 
to pacify him ; but still he was violent, and his lan- 
guage vehement and decided, — asserting that no 
man of honor and of self-respect would or could 



COL. GRIMSLEY AS MEDIATOK. 281 

have any business transactions with such fellows, or 
anything to do with sneh scoundrels, etc. The 
major, having been born and bred in Georgia, had 
inherited, imbibed, and cherished for all Abolitionists 
the most venomous and detestable hatred. Finally, 
after one of his paroxysms of rage and denunciation 
had passed off, I proposed to Maj. Smith that we 
should go down and see Col. Thornton Grimsley, 
whom I knew to be a warm personal friend of his, 
and whose saddle-shop and manufacturing estal^lish- 
ment was in the next block below, on the same 
side of the street. To this he readily assented. 
Col. Grimsley was not in the City Council at that 
time. At the time w^hen we called. Col. Grimsley 
was engaged with the men in his establishment. I 
spoke to him privately, and told him that Maj. Smith 
and myself had come to see him particularly on a 
little matter ; and as Col. Grimsley had no private 
room convenient, he suggested that w^e should step 
into ''Billy Williams's" saloon, a very genteel, 
fashionable, and elegant establishment of the kind, 
two or three doors below, where we could go into i\ 
back room and talk the matter over. We went there 
immediately, as the readiest and nearest place where 
we could discuss the subject-matter of our visit. 



282 WASHINGTON SQUAKE. 

After we had closed the door, so as not to be m- 
triided upon, and had taken our seats, I explamed the 
whole matter to Col. Grimsley, and made known 
Maj. Smith's objections, which he also enlarged 
upon more fully and emphatically. To my great 
satisfaction. Col. Grimsley told Maj. Smith that what 
he had ui-ged was no good ground for breaking off 
the trade. I had told the major that I would be the 
person he would have to deal with ; that I would 
deliver him the bonds ; that myself and the city 
register, Joseph A. Wherrj^ would be the parties he 
would have to deal with, so that he would have little 
or nothing to do personally with the committee. 
"Why,'' said Col. Grimsley, stroking his hand over 
his big, black whiskers, as his manner was, ''why, 
major, we'll wipe these Abolition scoundrels out so 
clean, in less than ten years, that there won't be a 
grease-spot left of them. You need not break off 
the trade on such an account." These suggestions 
seemed to satisfy Maj . Smith ; and on my assurance 
that I would deliver the bonds to him myself, the 
major agreed to waive all further objections. 

I made it my business to go around and see the 
members of the Council, and to talk to them in- 
dividually about the ])urchase, and was gratified to 



ORDINANCE AUTHOKIZING THE PUECHASE. 283 

find that there would be httle opposition to the meas- 
ure. The ordinance was enacted into a law, as fol- 
lows, viz. : — 

An ordinance authorizing the ma3'or to purchase of Thomas F. 
Smith, Esq. , a certain lot of ground, to be held by the city 
as a public square forever. 

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of St. Louis^ asfol- 
loivs : — 

Section 1. That the mayor be, and he is hereby authorized and 
requested to purchase, on the terms and conditions hereinafter desig- 
nated, on behalf of the city of St. Louis, from Thomas F. Smith, 
Esq., a certain lot or piece of ground situate on Market Street (so 
called), near the corporate limits of St. Louis, the said lot being 
bounded on the north by Market Street aforesaid, south by Clark 
Street, east l)y Twelfth Street, and west b}^ Fourteenth Street: 
Provided, in the opinion of the mayor and city attorney, the title 
to the said lot is indefeasible. 

Sect. 2. On the title being vested in the cit}^ to the lot afore- 
said, the mayor is hereby authorized and requested to issue the 
bonds of the cit}'^ of St. Louis to Thomas F. Smith, Esq., for the 
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, in sums of one thousand 
dollars each, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent per an- 
num, payable half-yearly. 

Sect. 3. The said bonds shall be made payable at the city of 
St. Louis, fifty years from the date of the deed of purchase, and 
shall contain a i)rovision that they may be redeemed or paid by the 
city at any time after twenty years from the date aforesaid. The 
bonds to be countersigned b}^ the comptroller in the usual form. 

Sect. 4. On the title of the said lot being vested in the city, it 
shall be, and the said lot or piece of ground is hereby declared to be, 
forever a public square, for the use of the citizens of St. Louis., 
and on no plea or pretext whatsoever shall it he diverted from the 
purposes for which it is intended; and to make this declaration ir- 
revocable, the deed of purchase shall guarantee to the seller, his 



284 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

heirs and assigns, as well as to tlie citizens of St. Louis, that it 
shall be a public square for the use of the citizens of St. Louis 
forecer. 

Sect. 5. The said i)ul)lic square, when it shall become the prop- 
erty of the city, shall be kept under such regulations as from time 
to time the City Council may deem proper. Said square shall be 
called " Washington Square." 

Sect. G. This ordinance to go into effect and ])e in force from 
and after its passage. 

Edw. Brooks, 
Chairman Board of Delegates. 

A. L. Mills, 
President Board of Aldermen. 
Approved, November 28, 1840. 

The provision inserted in the ordinance, expressly 
prohibiting the lot of groinid from ever being nsed oi* 
appropriated to another purpose tlian that of a 
"" public square," was inserted in the original con- 
tract, so entered into between myself and Maj. 
Thomas F. Smith, by my recpiest and by my express 
direction ; for I dictated the language when the 
written contract was entered into, which caused the 
same prohibition to be inserted in the ordinance 
authorizing the purchase and also in the deed of 
conveyance made to the city. For 1 assured Maj. 
Thomas F. Smith, at the time, that unless this prohi- 
bition was inserted in the ordinance and deed, the 
city authorities would attempt to s(dl or dispose of 
the propert}^, or appropriate it to some other purpose, 



TERMS OF THP] DEED. 285 

as they have several times attein])ted to do notwitli- 
standiiig the i)i*ohibition. 

In pursuance of the contract for the purchase, 
the foregomg- ordinance was passed, and accoi-dingly 
the deed of conveyance made to the city, in the fol- 
lowing terms and language : — 

This deed, made this first day of December, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, by and between 
Thomas F. Smith, and Emihe his wife, of tlie county of St. Louis, 
l)arties of the first part, and the city of St. Louis, party of tlie 
second ])art: Witnesseth, That the said parties of the first part, 
for and in consideration of the sum of twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars, to them in hand paid by the party of tlie second part, the re- 
ceii)t of which is herel)y acknowledged, do hereby grant, bargain, 
and sell to the (uty of St. Louis, the party of the second part, in 
fee-simple, the following described lot, or piece of ground, to wit: 
A certain lot or piece of ground situate on Market Street (so 
€alled), near the corporate limits of St. Louis, the said lot being 
bounded on the north by Market Street aforesaid, south by Clark 
Street, east by Twelfth Street, and west by Thirteenth Street ; 
beino- lot number three, containing six acres, in the first series, 
nm\ one of the lots assigned to Gabriel S. Chouteau, one of the 
heirs of Auguste Chouteau, deceased, by the commissioners ap- 
pointed by the Circuit Court of said county to divide the "mill 
tract" of the estate of said deceased, which said lot of ground 
said Gabriel S. Chouteau conveyed to Thomas F. Smith, l)y 
deed dated the thirteenth day of December, in the year 
eio-hteen hundred and thirty-three, and recorded in the record- 
er's oflflce of said county, in l)ook S, page o94 and following; 
to have and to hold said lot of ground, together with the priv- 
ile^^es and advantages to the same in anywise belonging, unto 
the city of St. Louis in fee-simple. And in pursuance of the 
requisitions of an ordinance of the city of St. Louis, entitled 



286 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

"An ordinance authorizing the mayor to purchase of Thomas F. 
Smith a certain lot of ground, to be held by the city as a pul)lic 
square forever," ai)proved November 28, 1840, the said city of 
St. Louis do hereby guarantee to the said Thomas F. Smith, his 
heirs and assigns, as well as to the citizens of said city of St. 
Louis, that the lot of ground above described shall be a public 
square for the use of the citizens of St. Louis forever. In testi- 
mony whereof, the said Thomas F. Smith, and the said EmiHe 
Smith, b}' her attorneys in fact, Gabriel S. Chouteau and Joseph C. 
Barlow, have hereunto set their hands and seals, on the day and 
3^ear in this behalf first above written ; and the city of St. Louis 
have also executed this deed, on the same day and year, by caus- 
ing the same to be signed by the mayor of said city, and causing 
the corporate seal of said city to be affixed, with the attestation of 
the register of said cit}^ 

T. F. Smith. [Seal.] 

Emilie Smith, [Seal.] 

By her attoinieys in. fact. 
Joseph C. Baklow, [Seal.] 
Gabriel S. Chouteau. [Seal.] 

Attested by J. A. Wherry, 

Register City of St. Louis. 
John F. Darby, 

Mayor of the City of St. Louis. 

State of Missouri, ) 

> ss. 

County of St. Louis. ' 
Be it remembered, that on this third day of December, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eioht hundred and forty, before 
me, H. Chouteau, clerk of the County Court within and for the 
county aforesaid, personally appeared Thomas F. Smith, who is 
personally known to me to be theperson whose name is subscribed 
to the foregoing instrument of writing as a party thereto, and ac- 
knowledged the same to be liis act and deed for the purposes 
therein mentioned ; and also appeared Josepli C. Barlow and Ga- 



THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 287 

briel S. Chouteau, who are also personally known to me to be the 
persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument 
of writing as parties thereto, and acknowledged the same to be 
their act, and as attorneys in fact of Emilie, the wife of the said 
Thomas F. Smith, for the purposes therein mentioned, and for her 
and in her name relinquished her dower in the said land and tene- 
ments therein mentioned. » 

In testimony, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of 
said county, at office in the city of St. Louis, in the county and 
State aforesaid, the day and year before mentioned. 

[l. s.] Henry Chouteau, Clerk. 

State of Missouri, ) 

^ ss. 



lis. ) 



County of St. Louis. 

Be it remembered, that on this third day of December, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, before 
me, Henry Chouteau, clerk of the County Court within and for 
the county aforesaid, personally appeared John F. Darby, who is 
personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed 
to the foregoing instrument of writing as a party thereto, and ac- 
knowledged the same to be his act and deed, as mayor of the city 
of St. Louis, for the purposes therein mentioned. 

In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the seal 
of said court, at office, in the city of St. Louis, in the county and 
State aforesaid, the day and year above written. 

[l. s.] Henry Chouteau, Clerk. 

Filed for record, April 13, 1841, and recorded April 26, 1841. 

John Ruland, Recorder. 
Book R, No. 2, pages 121 and 122. 

This was the true history of the origin and of 
the purchase of Washington Square. 

Afterwards, Mr. Budd was a candidate for re- 
election, when all manner of ahuse Avas heaped upon 



288 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

him on ac'couut of the city having pnrchased this 
square. This was most unjust and undeserved, for 
lie had no more to do with it than any othei* member 
of the Council, except that he was chairman of the 
select committee on ''public parks," to whom had 
l)een referred the mayor's communication. Yet, 
after he had made a report, six months subsequent to 
his appointment on such committee, that he was un- 
able to pur(*hase a piece of ground for a ]3ublic square 
or park, it was most unjustly called in the Democratic 
iiewspa])er — for there was but one, the Argus — 
the ''big gully," " Budd's folly," etc. This was 
mostly done by John M. Wimer, Robert N. Moore, 
and other JVorth - Ward politicians, who wanted to de- 
feat Budd in his election. They were aided by Abel 
Rathbone Corbin, then editor of the Democratic 
newspaper in St. Louis, — the same individual who 
has become ex-President Grant's brother-in-law, hav- 
ine: married his sister in the " White House," while 
Grant was president. There was no " big gully " 
on the land ; at the south-westei-n corner, near Clark 
Avenue, Avas a little drain. It had always been a 
level piece of ground, by nature ; and along the north- 
ern portion of the land, where Market Street now is, 
the primitive Fi-ench had their quarter race-track. 
I also came in foi' a full share of abuse from the 



DEFEAT OF Mil. BUDD. 289 

same ward-politicians foi' having pnrchased Washing- 
ton Square. I assumed the whole responsibility, in 
public speeches, harangues, and discussions in public 
meetings ; I relieved Mr. Budd from any blame 
whatever. I said that I alone had made the pur- 
chase, and that he was no more liable to censure 
than was any other member of the Council who had 
voted for the ordinance. I boldly asserted that I 
had made the purchase, and was ready to vindicate 
the act at all times, and to take the whole blame, 
if any there should be. 

Mr. Budd was defeated in his re-election ; not be- 
cause of the purchase of Washington Square, but 
because the mad-dog hue-and-cry had been raised 
against him, charging him with being an Aboli- 
tionist. At that time, no man in tliis then commu- 
nity of slave-holders who was suspected of being an 
Abolitionist could possibly be elected by the popular 
vote. 

Mr. Budd was a Whig in politics, and I did all 
that I could to elect him. In public meetings I 
had heard him deny frequently that he was an Aboli- 
tionist, with as much positiveness as Peter had de- 
nied, his Lord, although he did not curse and swear 
as Peter did, but conducted himself with the dignity 
and gravity of the true Presbyterian that he was. 

11) 



290 WASHINGTON SQUARE. 

Maj. Thomas F. Smith was a gentleman of re- 
finement and edneation, — warm-hearted, generous^ 
and impulsive, — a devoted personal friend of mine. 
One or two anecdotes which are here inserted will 
somewhat illustrate his peculiarities. I met him on 
the street on one occasion with a fine, new pistol, 
which he had got old Creamer, the gunsmith, to 
make for him. '' I have just had that pistol made," 
said he, " by old Creamer, to shoot old Lawless with." 
I replied, '' Major, I hope you won't shoot old Law- 
less." ''Why," said he, ''I have had the pistol 
made for that purpose, and I dislike to lose the 
use of it." 

On another occasion, he was in command of a 
company of United States sokliers of one hundred 
men, coming down the Mississippi River from Kock 
Island on a keel-boat, rowed by the soldiers them- 
selves. Capt. Bennett Riley — afterwards Gen. 
Riley, wlio fought with so much bravery all 
through the Mexican war, and who was one of the 
first mihtary governors of California — was also in 
command of a like number of men on another keel- 
boat. The two captains, for the sake of company, 
sat together on the deck of one of the boats, and as 
the boat came down the stream they saw a dead tree, 
with the roots embedded in the bottom of the river. 

Capt. Smith said to Capt. Kik-y, '^There's a 



ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 291 

sawj^er." To which Capt. Riley replied, '' T say 
it's a snag/' Capt. Smith immediately rejoined, " I 
say it's a sawyer ; do you mean to dispute my 
word?" Riley answered, ''And I say it's a snag; 
do you mean to dispute my woi'd? " Smith called 
out to the non-commissioned officer in command of 
the vessel, ''Round the hoat to, sergeant, — round 
her to; we'll soon settle this matter. N^o man shall 
dispute my word." The two hoats were landed and 
the two captains went ashore, and in the presence of 
the two hundred soldiers under their command, took 
a shot at each other with pistols, to settle the question 
whether the lo^' seen in the river was a snac>' or a 
sawyer. Fortunately, the captains had been imbib- 
ing a little, and neither of the gentlemen was hit by 
the exchange of shots. 

The within communication has been read to us by John F. 
Darb}'^, and, to the best of our knowledge, we deem the same cor- 
rect. 

Edw. Brooks, 

Thomas H. West, 
Samuel Gaty, 
Members of the City Council for the year 1840^ 



Article III. of the treaty of cession of Louisiana 
reads as follows : — 

The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in 
tlie Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible^ 



292 ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

aecordiiio- to the princi[)les of the Federal Constitution, to the 
enjoyment of all the rights, mlvantaoes, and immunities of citizens 
of the United States ; and in the meantime they shall be main- 
tained and i)roteeted in the free enjoyment of their liberty, prop- 
erty, and the religion which they profess. 

In pursuance of this article, Congress passed the 
following acts for ascertaining and adjudicating- 
titles and claims to land in Louisiana, viz. : Act of 
2Gth March, 1804; Act of 2d March, 1805; Act of 
26th Fel)ruary, 180(3; Act of 21st April, 1806; Act 
of 3d March, 1807. 

Notwithstanding- these various acts of Congress, 
up to the year 1811 there were not three perfect 
titles to land in the whole territory of Upper Louisi- 
ana. In the year 1811, Edward Hempstead was 
elected to Congress as a delegate from the Missouri 
Territory. 

In the re])ort of the Board of Directors of the 
St. Louis Puhlic Schools for the year 1876, it is 
stated that the whole amount of revenue of the 
schools at that tune was $789,111.99; that the 
property owned h}^ the hoard consisted of large 
landed property donated hy the general gOA^ernment, 
then estimated at the value of $1,252,895.79, yield- 
ing that year an income of $52,855.75 ; and when 
the first fift} -year leases shall have run out, the })r()p- 
erty will no douht he douhled in value. 

It is proposed now to give the origin of this rich 



THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE GRANT. 293 

g-rant of land to the public schools. It did not 
originate in Congress, but emanated from and was 
started by Col. Thomas F. Riddick, of St. Louis. 
He was the man who first conceived the idea of hav- 
ing this valuable property made over, by grant, to the 
public schools, and took steps to have it done. He 
it was who planned, labored for, and carried out the 
scheme and project of having these valuable lands 
donated to the public schools. This is the true 
iiistory of the grant. 

Mr. Hempstead appealed to Congress to have 
these people of Upper Louisiana confirmed in their 
titles to their lands, and urged, amongst other 
grounds, the fact that they had been incorporated 
into the Union and made citizens of the United States 
without their knowledge, autliority, or consent ; that 
by the Spanish law and royal order, the intendant- 
general at 'New Orleans was alone vested with 
authority to make grants of land in Louisiana in 
the name of the sovereign, his Catholic majesty, the 
King of Spain, which grants having not been per- 
fected before the transfer of the country to the 
United States, all their titles were, as a matter of 
course, inchoate and necessarily imperfect. He 
therefore urged upon and pleaded with Congress to 
pass the act of the 13th of June, 1812, which he had 



294 ^ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

prepared as a matter of right and justice, and for 
which the honor and faith of the nation were l)ound 
and solemnly pledged. Bemg a delegate merely, he 
could not vote, but could only advocate his bill, 
which was voted upon and passed finally by the full 
members of Congress. A portion of the act of 
Congress is as follows : — 



Be it enacted^ etc. 

Section 1. The rights, titles, and chiims to town or village lots, 
out-lots, common-field lots, and commons in, adjoining, and l)e- 
lono-iiio- to the several towns or villao-es of Portage des Sioux, St. 
Charles, St. Louis, St. Ferdinand, Village a Robert, Little Prairie, 
and Arkansas, in the Territory of Missouri, which lots have been 
inhabited, cultivated, or possessed prior to the twentieth day of 
December, 1803, shall be, and the same are hereby, confirmed to 
the inhabitants of the respective towns or villages aforesaid, ac- 
cording to their several rights in common thereto. [The proviso 
to this section is omitted, as not being necessary to this publication. 
Acts of Twelfth Congress, Chap. XCIX.] 

Sect. 2. All town or village lots, out lots, or common-field lots, 
included in such survej^s, which are not rightfull}^ owned or 
claimed by any private individuals, or held as commons belong- 
ing to such towns or villages, or that the president of the United 
States may not think proper to i-eserve for military purposes, 
shall be, and the same are hereby reserved for the support of 
schools in the respective towns or villages aforesaid. [The pro- 
viso to this section is also omitted, as not beino- necessary to this 
article. Id., sect. 2.] 

This is the origin of this rich gift to the St. 
Louis Public Schools. The value of these lands now 
owned by the schools, in round numbers, may be 



THE CREDIT DUE TO COL. RIDDICK. 295 

stated to be worth to-day a million and a half of 
dollars. The second section of this law, giving 
these lands to the public schools, was inserted in the 
act by Mr. Hem])stead, at the special and earnest 
request of Thomas F. Riddick (Col. Riddick had 
lived here in St. Louis before that), who knew all 
about the town, and knew that there were certain 
lots of ground in the town for which no rightful 
owners or claimants could be found. With him 
originated the idea of giving these lots, not rightfully 
claimed, to the public schools ; and for tliis purpose 
Col. Riddick started on horseback, and rode all the 
way to Washington City, at his own individual ex- 
pense, to have this desirable object consummated and 
carried out, which was done. Of these things I have 
heard from Col. Riddick himself, and from Archi- 
bald Gamble, Esq., so long an efficient and active 
agent of the public schools in looking after their 
interest in these lands, and he informed me that to 
Col. Riddick was due the credit of having this rich 
grant of lands made, and which Mr. Hempstead 
carried through Congress. 

For this great and valuable inheritance now en- 
joyed by the public schools. Col. Riddick deserves to 
have a monument erected to his memory. It was my 
good fortune to know Col. Riddick most intimately 



296 ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

and well. I have visited his house and shared the 
generous hospitahty of his domicile, and have 
received the warm, friendly greetings of his friend- 
ship and that of his whole family. Col. Riddick was 
among the very first trustees of the public schools. 
He Avas a member of the convention that formed the 
first Constitution of the State of Missouri, being 
elected on the same ticket, from the county of St. 
Louis, with such men as Edward Bates, Gov. Mc- 
^air. Gen. Bernard Pratte, and Pierre Chouteau, Jr. 
When he embarked in any enterprise, he was one of 
the most enthusiastic men that ever lived in St. 
Louis. He died at the Sulphur Springs, in Jefferson 
County, Missouri, about the year 1830 or 1831, be- 
loved, honored, and respected by all who knew him. 
It is with the most becoming deference and respect 
toward the members of the Board of the St. Louis 
Public Schools, and certainly in no spirit of offensive 
obtrusiveness, that I may be peruiitted to express the 
hope that the very intelligent and worthy gentlemen 
who compose the board will, befoi-e long, take some 
suitable action to erect a proper monument to the 
memory of one who has conferred upon them the 
means of doing so much good, and from which those 
under their charge have been blessed with and have 
derived such lasting benefits. In fact, so far as the St. 



EDWARD HEMPSTEAD. 297 

Louis public schools are concerned, Col. Thomas F. 
Riddick was the creator and originator of that noble 
system of instruction which now obtains in St. Louis. 

Of Edward Hempstead, the delegate in Congress 
who introduced and had passed this act, a word should 
be said. I did not know him personally, but I knew 
his father, Stephen Hempstead, who rode in the car- 
nage with Lafayette, when he visited St. Louis ; and 
I knew all his brothers, William, Lewis, and Charles ; 
m fact, I loiew the whole family, who were amongst 
the most respectable early American settlers in St. 
Louis. Charles S. Hempstead died about the year 
1875, at the advanced age of more than eighty 
years. For more than forty years he had been a 
practising lawyer at Galena, in Illinois, where he 
died. He was for many years the law-partner, at 
Galena, of Mr. Washburn e, the late ministei* of the 
United States in Paris. 

The late Edward Bates is authority for the state- 
ment that when Edward Hempstead came to St. 
Louis, he came all the way from Vincennes, Indi- 
ana, on foot, with a little bundle on his back. He 
was born in 'New London, Connecticut, June 3, 
1780 ; received a classical education from private 
tutors, and, having studied law, was admitted to the 
bar in 1801. After spending three years in Rhode 
Island, practising his profession, he removed in 1804 



298 WILLIAM CHRISTY. 

to Louisiana, travelling' on horseback, and tarrying 
for a time at Vincennes, Indiana Territory. He first 
settled in St. Charles, on the Missonii River, in 1805 ; 
he then removed to St. Louis, Avhere he resided the 
balance of his life. Li 1806 he was appointed deputy 
attorney-general for the district of St. Louis and St. 
Charles ; and in 1809, attorney-general for the terri- 
tory of Upper Louisiana, which office he held until 
1811. He was the first delegate in Congress from 
the western side of the Mississippi Kiver, represent- 
ing Missouri Territory from 1811 to 1811:. After his 
service in Congress, he went upon several expeditions 
against the Indians ; was elected to the Territorial 
Assembly, and chosen speaker. He was a man of 
ability, pure and without reproach, and his loss was 
deeply lamented by all who knew him. He died in 
St. Louis on the 10th of August, 1817, a little under 
thirty-seven years of age. 

This short notice is due to one who did so much 
for his country and especially who had rendered such 
lasting and valuable services to the city of St. Louis. 



Wilhani Christy, Jr., of St. Charles, was clerk 
of the Cii-cuit Court, and ex-qficio recorder of St. 
Charles County, and also of the County (Jourt of 



AN OFFICIAL OF THE OLDEN TIME. 299 

St. Charles County, about fifty years ago. He was 
a very polite, gentlemanly man in his manners. 
When the terms of the court would begin, the 
country people and farmers would come to court, as 
witnesses, parties, jurors, etc. Many of these parties 
had charge of estates, — as administrators, execu- 
tors, guardians, and curators, — almost all of whom 
owed fees to the clerk, which he would try to collect 
during their attendance on the court. He was a 
venei-able-looking man, and wore a long queue down 
his back, which was neatly dressed, and tied with a 
black ribbon. He was recorder of deeds also, and 
parties would send in their deeds to be recorded, 
without sending the money to pay the fees ; so that 
there was a considerable amount due to him from 
persons scattered all over the county. They used to 
say of this ancient official, that whenever he got a 
chance to speak to these different parties he always 
reminded them that there were some fees due to him. 
When, for example, a witness w^ould come to be 
sw^orn in a case on trial in the Circuit Court, he 
always used the Bible to administer the oath, and 
would say, when the witness was called, " Come 
to the book." And then he would say, ^' Put your 
hand on the book," and would swear the witness 
after this manner : ' ' You do solemnly swear that the 



300 NATHANIEL BEVEKLY TUCKER. 

evidence you are about to g-ive in the ease now pend- 
ing before the court, wherein Peter Simple is plaintiff 
and John Jones is defendant, shall be the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, [then low- 
ering his voice, and speaking as if in parenthesis, he 
would say, "You owe me a dollar"] so help you 
God." He was a man of great respectability, and 
universally beloved. He died in St. Charles more 
than forty years ago. 



^ Judge Tucker was judge of the St. Louis Circuit 
Court. He was a man of eccentric character, and 
was a half-brother of John Randolph, the great 
orator of Roanoke, Virginia. They had the same 
mother, but different fathers, and he had many of 
the eccentricities of John Randolph. When he came 
to Missouri, he went near Florissant, in St. Louis 
Count}^, and bought a farm ; and on the planta- 
tion Avas a big, hollow sycamoi*e tree, eight or ten 
feet in diameter. This he cut off eight or ten feet 
above the ground, cleaned it out, cut a door in it, 
and made a law-office of it, putting his books around 
the inside, and lived there as a practising attorney. 
He had a great aversion to Yankees ; he used to call 



Hl^ AVERSION TO YANKEES. 301 

them the "Universal Yankee ]!*^ation ; " and when the 
people were forinhig a State Constitution for the first 
time, under the direction of Barton and others, he used 
to say he wanted it to he engrafted in the Constitution 
that no Yankee should ever cross the Mississippi River, 
and he wanted a clause inserted in the Constitution that 
no Yankee should ever settle in the State of Missouri. 
When he was asked hj Mr. Bates and others how 
he could prevent the Yankees from crossing the 
Mississippi River, Mr. Tucker said he would have 
every ferryman stationed on eithei* side of the liver 
instructed, Avhen a passenger came up and wanted to 
cross, to ask the applicant for ferriage to pronounce 
the word '' cow,*" and if he said ''keow" he would 
not be permitted to let him pass. Judge Tucker was 
judge of the Circuit Court here for a number of 
years, and theu went over into St. Charles County, 
and was judge of the JSTorthern Circuit in the State 
of Missouri. He lived on a farm, and would get on 
one of his fine horses and gallop off twenty or thirty 
miles to hold court. The country, generally, was 
thinly settled, and there was but little business to be 
done. He would swear in the grand jury, and if they 
came in and reported no business, after dinner he 
would turn around, adjourn the court, and go home, 
and there would l)e nothing more done at that term. 



302 NATHANIEL BEVERLY TUCKER. 

He afterwards went back to Virginia, and became 
professor of law in the old institution of William 
and Mary. He lived thei*e for a number of years. 
On one occasion Judge Tucker w^as trying a suit in 
the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, and old Dr. 
Simpson was examined as a witness by Col. Lawless. 
Late in the evening the court was about to adjourn, 
when somebody came down town and told Dr. Simp- 
son that Col. Lawless was animadverting very se- 
verely upon his testimony. Old Dr. Simpson ran up, 
in very bad humor, and met Col. Lawless coming 
with an armful of books out of the coui't-house. 
The court was then held in a little frame l:)uilding 
belonging to Parson Geddings, of the fii'st Presby- 
terian church that was ever built here. Simpson 
addressed Lawless, and said, ''Col. Lawless, I un- 
derstand, sir, you have been animadverting on my 
testimony very severely." " What then? ■' said old 
Col. Lawless. ''Why," said Simpson, "then you 
told a d — d lie, you old scoundrel." And with that, 
old Lawless, who was a boxer, struck at Dr. Simp- 
son, who, however, was active, and dodged the blow. 
Just then Judge Tucker, coming out of the court- 
room, saw the hght, and commanded the peace. 
Dr. Simpson, who was running around and getting 
out of the w^ay of Col. Lawless, said to Judge 



BKYAN MULLANPHY. 303 

Tucker, " If your Honor please, I have whipped the 
man enough, — I won't whip him any more ; " which 
greatly annoyed Col. Lawless, who was trying to 
get a chance at Dr. Simpson. 



Bryan Mullanphy was the son of John Mullan- 
phy, a man of immense fortune, who lived in St. 
Louis, and who died in the year 1833, leaving an es- 
tate estimated, at the time of his death, at Hve or six 
millions of dollars. 

Bryan Mullanphy was an only son, but he had 
six sisters, one of whom was married to Charles 
Chambers ; another, to Richard Graham ; another 
was married to Maj. Thomas Biddle, who was killed 
in a duel by Spencer Pettis, member of Congress from 
Missouri, in the year 1831 ; another married Gen. 
William S. Harney, of the United States army; an- 
other one of his sisters married James Clemens, Jr. ; 
and the other married, first. Dr. Dennis Delaney, 
and after his death. Judge Boyce, of Louisiana. 

Bryan Mullanphy, after going to school for some 
years in St. Louis, was sent by his father to France, 
and educated in a monastery ; consequently, when he 
came out of that institution of learning, he knew 



304 BRYAN MULLANPHY. 

little of the outside world, or of men. His father 
used to boast, before he came home, that he intended 
to give him a fortune, with an income equal to the 
salary of the president of the United States, Avhich, 
fifty years ago, was counted a very considerable sum. 

Bryan Mnllanphy was a man of fine mind, but 
he had some eccentricities, that seemed in a measure 
to destroy liis usefulness. Possessed of a very large 
estate by inheritance from his father, he studied law, 
and entered into politics, taking the Democratic 
side. He used to go around the country making 
speeches, and his eccentricities and peculiarities were 
such as always to attract attention. He was at one 
time an alderman of the city of St. Louis, subse- 
quently mayor of the city, and was finally appointed 
by the governor of the State, judge of the St. Louis 
Circuit Court. He discharged the duties of those 
offices respectably ; but his many peculiarities were 
the subject of remark, and provoked the mirth of 
almost everybody who was acquainted with him. 

While he was judge of the St. Louis Circuit 
Court, he had a difficulty in court with a lawyer 
named Ferdinand W. Risque, who had come from 
Virginia. The judge ordered Risque to take his 
seat, which he refused to do, and told the court 
he would rather stand. Whereupon the court im- 



ENGAGES IN A PASSAGE AT ARMS. 305 

posed a fine upon him ; and Risque still refusing to 
take his seat, when ordered to do so by the court, 
another fine was imposed. At last Risque went 
outside the court-room, and looking back at the 
judge, shook his fist and made faces at him. There- 
upon Judge MuUanphy oi'dered the sheriff to go 
and close the door, so as not to ' ' have the light 
of his countenance shine upon Risque." Risque was 
very violent against the judge, and afterwards Avay- 
laid him on Chestnut Street, opposite the southern 
entrance to the Planters' House, and made an as- 
sault upon him with a stick. He knocked off the 
judge's hat and spectacles. Risque was in company 
with George H. Kennerly, at that time marshal of 
the county of St. Louis. When struck by Risque, 
Judge Mullanphy drew his sword, and made an ef- 
fort to thrust it through his assailant, when Marshal 
Kennerly stepped between them and commanded the 
peace. Mullanphy turned to Marshal Kennerly, 
and asked him if he did that in his official capacity. 
Kennerly replied, that he did. Thereupon the judge, 
saying, ''I always obey the officers of the law, 
sir," put up his swoi'd in his cane and walked off. 
The judge did not touch his assailant, although 
the contrary has been erroneously stated. 

I went to Florissant in the year 1838, having been 

20 



306 ■ BRYAN MULLANPHY. 

designated as one of the speakers on the Whig side ; 
and Judge Mullanphy, on the Democratic side, was to 
reply to me. The jndge and Hugh 0']N^eil, Demo- 
cratic candidates for the Legislature, rode out in a 
buo'O'v toofether. and in crossing;- a creek, the wheels 
ran upon the side of the bank and threw out the oc- 
cupants of the buggy. Mr. O'lN^eil at once picked 
himself up, and, running out upon the bank, pulled 
out a bottle and began to drink ; when the judge cried 
out, " Hold, hold, O'^eil ! Don't drink it all, for I 
have got an interest in the bottle." 

On another occasion, when he was mayor, he told 
Mr. Kayser, who was then city engineer, that Chou- 
teau's Pond Avas a nuisance, and that he wanted the 
engineer to go out to the pond with him, examine it, 
and take steps to abate it. It was a very wai*ni day, 
and as they went by a drug-store, on the corner of 
^Fourth and Market Streets, they stopped to get a glass 
of soda-water. While drinking, another gentleman 
came in, and asked for a glass of blue-lick water ; 
which, as is well known, smells very strongly of sul- 
phur. While the gentleman was drinking his blue- 
lick. Judge Mullanphy began to snuff his nose, and 
said to Mr. Kayser, " I smell that now." The pond 
was half a mile away. 

When Bryan Mullanph}^ was judge of the St. 



INDICTED FOR OPPRESSION IN OFFICE. 307 

Louis Circuit Court, some lawyer made a point before 
him, that he was not competent to try a cause in 
which the Bank of the State of Missouri was a party, 
because he was a stockholder in the bank. To which 
the judge replied, that the " court was not a stock- 
holder in the bank ; but that the court's mother was 
a stockholder, and therefore he would not try the 
case." 

Mr. Risque w^ent before the grand jury and had 
Judge Mullanphy indicted for oppression in office as 
judge. A statute was then in force which provided 
that wdiere any officer should be guilty of oppression 
in office, he should be indictable and triable before a 
jury in the Criminal Court. Judge Mullanphy hav- 
ing thus been indicted by the grand jury, upon the 
representations made by Mr. Risque, a capias for his 
arrest was issued out of the Criminal Court. When 
the marshal, with the writ, went in to see him, he 
was on the bench holding' court and presiding as 
circuit judge. A lawyer was making a speech to the 
jury ; and as the judge, seemingly, was not engaged, 
the marshal went up to his side and said to him, in a 
low tone, that he had a capias for him from the 
Ci'iminal Court, and that, as soon as the court ad- 
journed, he would thank him to come into the office 
and enter into a recognizance for his appearance 



308 BRYAN ISIULLANPHY. 

before that court, — l^iit to suit bis own eonveiiience^ 
and take bis oavii time. As soon as tbe marsbal said 
tbat to bim, be called out to tbe lawyer ^bat was 
making- bis speecb to tbe jury, and said to bim, 
'' Stop, stop; T can't go any furtber now% — tbe court 
is indicted. Mr. Sberiff, discbarge tbe juiy and ad- 
journ tbe coui't ; tbe court is indicted. Tbe court 
will not continue in session one minute after being 
m dieted." 

Judge Mullanpby stood bis trial before tbe Crim- 
inal Court on tbe indictment for oppression. I 
acted as counsel for bim, and be was triumpbantly 
, acquitted. 

On anotber occasion, Mr. Tbomas Skinker, a 
very respectable member of tbe bar, leaning back in 
bis seat, crossed bis legs up over tbe corner of bis 
desk, in tbe like manner as Counsellor Leslie bad 
done in tbe same court tbe day before, and for 
wdiicb be bad been reprimanded by tbe court. I 
was making a speecb to tbe jury at tbe time. Tbe 
judge called to me, '' Stop, stop," said be. '' Take 
your seat, Mr. Darby." I sat down. He tben 
addressed Mr. Skinker, and said, " Mr. Skinker, you 
ai*e sitting in a very disrespectful posture before tbe 
court, witb your posteriors turned up to tbe court. 
Take down vour let>s.'' Mr. Skinker strai^bt- 



HIS ECCENTRICITIES. 309 

enecl himself, grew red in the face, and took down 
his legs. The judge then said to me, '' Mr. Darby, 
proceed with your argument." 

As the judge grew older, he seemed to become 
somewhat eri-atic in mind. One gloomy day, late in 
the evening, a Avoman was sitting at the old market, 
holding a fine-looking cow l^y a rope attached to the 
horns of the animal. The woman had come from a 
farm in Illinois, and had brought the cow to sell. 
She had sat there at the market for hours, patiently. 
In passing, Judge Mullanphy saw her, and asked 
what she wanted to do with the cow. She replied 
that she wanted to sell her. The judge inquired the 
price. The woman told him. ''Is she a good 
cow?" he inquired. ''She is," replied the woman, 
" and a tine one for milk." He then asked her what 
made her Avant to sell the animal, if it was so good. 
The woman said she '' had so many children to sup- 
port, that she was compelled to bring the cow here 
and sell her, to raise some money." The judge 
then said if his " stable was finished, so that he could 
have a place to keep the animal, he would buy her," 
but that his ''stable was not finished." Here the 
judge performed a sort of theatrical part, running* 
across Market Street to the north side. The poor 
Avoman thought that she had lost the chance of sell- 



310 BRYAN MULLANPHY. 

ing to the gentleman. It was verging on towards 
night, and was cold and chilly. After crossing the 
street, Jndge Mnllanphy stopped, pansed, and pon- 
dered for a minnte ; when he went back to where the 
woman was, and said to her, ''I will give yon the 
money for the cow now, — here it is ; '' handing her 
the money. ''Yon take the cow back to yonr 
place in Illinois, and keep her for me ; and here is 
so mnch more money to pay yon for keeping the 
cow for me." Mnllanphy never sought for woman 
or cow afterwards. 

When Bryan Mnllanphy came home from Enrope, 
in the year 1827, he was noted and observed and 
his acqnaintance eagerly sought after by everybody, 
because of his prospective great wealth by inherit- 
ance. Another story was told of Mr. Mnllanphy. 
He was asked how he liked St. Lonis as compared 
with Paris, — how this country compared with France ; 
to which he replied, that he '' thought the Mississippi 
was a great river for a new country." 

Gen. Atkinson, of the United States army, was 
the officer in command at Jefferson Barracks. Stand- 
ing in the pai*ade-ground were some large white-oak 
trees, natives of the primitive forest, two and three 
feet in diameter, and perhaps several hundred years 
old. When the barracks were established, these an- 



HE FALLS IN LOVE. 311 

cient oaks had been left, for shade and ornament. 
Mr. Mnllanphy having been invited, with a distin- 
gnished party of gentlemen, to dine with Gen. Atkin- 
son, very gravely inquired, at table, if Gen. Atkinson 
had planted those trees. 

On several occasions, he used to get a banjo, and 
go up and down Third Street, in the neighborhood of 
Washington Avenue, playing on that rude musical in- 
strument, attracting the attention of the passers-by 
with his grotesque appearance. One day, when he was 
thus enjoying himself, a laboring German came along, 
with what is called a saw-buck and wood-saw on his 
shoulders. Judge Mullanphy ran up behind the 
workino'man and o^-ave him a most tremendous kick. 
The man turned around, evidently much excited with 
anger, and with the seeming intention of making 
tight, for the assault and indignity offered to him ; 
whereupon the gentleman with the musical instru- 
ment ran ahead of the offended wood-sawyer, and 
turning his back to him, said, " ^ow, here : you kick 
me." 

At one time he was touched with the tender passion , 
and made love most ardently to a German lady ; but 
she, like a sensible woman, would not marry him, not- 
w^ithstanding his great wealth ; and consequently he 
never married. He was a man of medium size ; 
rather heavy set, not very large, but robust. 



312 SARGENT S. PRENTISS. 

Mr. Miillanphy was noted for his charities, and,, 
like his father, contril^uted largely to charitable ob- 
jects and institutions. He made a donation, establish- 
ing the Mnllanphy Home, for the aid of emigrants, 
giving one-third of his large estate to the city for 
that purpose. He died in St. Louis in the year 1851. 



In the year 1840, this great orator and statesman 
passed through St. Louis on his way north, by way 
of Chicago. He had come np the Mississippi on a 
steamboat, intending to make no stay in St. Louis. 
It was in the month of June, when the Harrison and 
Tyler campaign — ''Tippecanoe and Tyler too" — 
was under headway, in which memorable political 
struggle the Wliig party had worked itself up to the 
highest pitch of enthusiasm. 

So soon as it was known that Mr. Pi-entiss was in 
the city, some of the leading and prominent Whigs 
determined to avail themselves of his presence here, 
and, if possible, try and get the eloquent and dis- 
tinguished orator to make a speech in behalf of 
the Whig cause. Accordingly, Col. Adam B. 
Chambers, IS^athaniel Paschall, George K. McGun- 
nagle. Col. Thornton Grimsley, and myself, met 
together at the Repahlican newspaper office, and 



ANNOUNCED TO ADDRESS THE PEOPLE. 313 

called upon the distinguished Mississippian. The 
impromptu, self-constituted committee did me the 
honor of considering me its chairman. We waited 
upon the great man, at what was then called the 
IS^ational Hotel, and made know^n to him the object 
of our visit. Mr. Prentiss returned thanks to us for 
the distinguished honor done him, but said that he 
had engaged and paid his passage on a steamboat 
which was to leave for the Illinois River that day at two 
o'clock. He agreed, however, with the committee, 
that if they could prevail upon the captain of the 
boat to lay over for one day, he would make a 
speech for us that night. 

These same gentlemen went immediately to see 
the captain of the boat, to get him to stay twenty- 
four hours. This he consented to do, if we would 
pay him one hundred dollars for the delay ; to which 
all most i^eadily assented. Mr. Prentiss was imme- 
diately notified of the arrangement. Thereupon 
large, flaming handbills Avere struck off and posted 
all over town, announcing that Sargent S. Pi*entiss, 
of Mississippi, would address the people, on Fourth 
Street, that evening, at eight o'clock. A stand had 
been prepared at the edge of the curb-stone in front 
of the court-house. When the houi- ariived, an 
immense crowd had gathered, filling up the whole 



314: SARGENT S. PKENTISS. 

of Fourth Street to the eastern side of the street, and 
all the space west of the street clear up to the court- 
house. Fi-om the south side of Market Street to the 
north side of Chestnut Street thei-e was one solid 
mass of human beings. Whigs and Democrats, 
ladies and gentlemen, old and young, all wanted to 
hear the eminent orator. 

The committee had done me the most dis- 
tinguished honor of attending to the prominent 
stranger during his stay,, of showing him the proper 
courtesies and civilities, and of introducing him to 
the vast assemblage of people. Soon after we had 
appeai-ed upon the stand, he took a seat and paused 
for a few moments, as if to recover from the fatigue 
of walking, — a fatigue caused by his being very lame. 
When he arose, and I had introduced him, he was 
received by the people with great applause, and for 
three hours held that immense crowd spellbound. 
The stand being at the curb-stone, the speaker was 
placed near the centre of the great assemblage. The 
evening was calm, and the clear, loud-ringing tones 
of his voice could be distinctly heard to the very out- 
skirts of the meeting. Many persons who had often 
heard Prentiss, selected this speech as the most pow- 
erfnl and happy effort they had ever heard from 
him. He retained the attention of his audience from 



THE EFFECT OF HIS GREAT SPEECH. 315 

the beginning- to the end ; not a person moved dur- 
ing the whole time the soul-stirring and eloquent 
hai'angue was being delivered. He was interrupted 
occasionally by great bursts of laughter and tre- 
mendous shouts of applause from his auditors. Per- 
haps it is not too much to say, that the great powers 
of mind and thought, and the great force of lan- 
guage and eloquence with which he charmed and 
captivated his hearers have never been equalled by any 
man who ever spoke in fj*ont of that court-house. A 
man of the intelligence of Gov. Hamilton Rowan 
Gamble said, directly after the speech was made, 
that he stood in his tracks for three hours, and lis- 
tened to the great orator without moving, and could 
have stood and listened to him for three hours longer, 
had he continued to speak in the same strain. 
His w^ell-turned periods, modulated cadence, winning 
accents, and happy elocution, seemed to fall like 
music upon the ear, and to please and charm every 
one within his hearing. 

The writer of this sketch afterwards became well 
acquainted with Mr. Prentiss. Having met him 
in 'New Orleans, and travelled with him on steam- 
boats, I learned from him many interesting incidents 
of his life in Mississippi. One of his anecdoteer is 
particularly interesting. 



316 SARGENT S. PRENTISS. 

Prentiss had contested the seat of Gholson in the 
Honse of Representatives of the United States, bnt 
lost it b}^ the casting vote of the speaker of the 
Honse, James K. Polk, — the Honse deciding that 
neither party was entitled to the seat. Under the 
circnnistances, the whole State of Mississippi was in 
a blaze of excitement. 

Prentiss started npon his second pohtical cam- 
paign, and had his handbills sent all over the district,, 
naming the times and , places at which he wonld 
address the people in the different comities. At the 
same time a travelling circns was foUoAving the elo- 
qnent politician aronnd to his different appointments. 
It annoyed the candidate for Congi'css greatly. He 
said that jnst abont the time he was getting into the 
pith and marrow of his disconrse, the circns wagons 
wonld be seen approaching over the hills. The 
andience wonld begin to tnrn their heads over their 
shonlders, and shonting, '' The circns ! the circns ! " 
wonld break away. 

Prentiss songht ont the circns man and remon- 
strated against this interference with his gatherings. 
•^^ Why," said the circns man, ''Mr. Prentiss, I 
always get the biggest croAvds at yonr meetings." 
Pre^itiss came to an nnderstanding with the circns 
peo])le, that they shonld not open the show for exhi- 



JONAS MOORE. 317 

hitioii until after he (Prentiss) had spoken ; and by 
way of showing- his good feeling, the proprietor of 
the circus told Prentiss that he would give him the 
lion's cage, or wagon, to speak from. After that the 
circus wagons would draw np in a circle, and Pren- 
tiss, in haranguing the mnltitude, would mount the 
lion's caofe as a stand. He said whenever it became 
necessary to give his opponents the blood and thunder 
of his discourse, he wonld stick his cane down 
throngh air-holes in the lion's cage. This would 
cause the lion to roar, and the people would shout 
and cheer ; and the device helped him greatly in the 
canvass. 



Jonas Moore came to St. Louis from the State 
of ^ew Hampshire, about the year 1826. He fol- 
lowed the business of butchering ; kept a stall in the 
market, prospered, and accumulated consideral)le 
property. In the year 1849, after the discovery of 
gold in California, Jonas Moore was seized with the 
common excitement, and started for the land of 
riches and great fortunes, with the great multitude 
A\ho went overland to the Pacific that year. After 
months of hai'dship, toil, exposure, and peril, he 
arrived in the gold-mining country, and commenced 
digging for the precious treasure. 



318 JONAS MOOKE. 

In about six months he had spent all his money ; 
and from hard work, fatigue, and exposure he lost his 
health, and for a time was expected to die. By the 
kindness of some friends he was nursed, and assisted 
to San Francisco. 

Among- others who went to California, in 1849, 
from St. Louis, was an old friend of mine, a lawyer, 
by the name of Pardon Dexter Tiffany, who spent 
some time in San Francisco, and who, from his long 
residence in St. Louis, knew Jonas Moore well. 
My old friend. Tiffany, gave me this story of Mr. 
Moore. He said he looked feeble, emaciated, and 
wretched ; he was ragged and dirty ; he could barely 
totter along on a pine stick ; he had lost his voice, 
and could only speak in a whisper ; and he had 
no money. So soon as he reached San Francisco 
he sought out Tiffany, as an old fellow-townsman, 
to make known to him his distressed situation, and 
to ask assistance from him. 

Tiffany furnished him money to relieve his wants, 
and bought a ticket for his transportation home, by 
way of Panama. When the steamship started on 
her trip down the coast from San Francisco, among 
other passengers she had about one hundi'ed broken- 
down miners, Jonas Moore, who seemed at death's 
door, being one of them. A more forlorn and mis- 
erable set of human l)eings IkhI, i)erhaps, never been 



RETURNING CALIFORNIANS. 319 

collected in the cabin of any steamboat before. The 
poor fellows had all lost their health from hardship, 
and seemed to have barely saved money enough to 
pay their passage home. Some had chills and fever ; 
some were disabled and crippled, many bent up with 
rheumatism ; some had hacking coughs ; and their 
clothes were threadbare. More disheartened, dejected, 
despondent, discouraged specimens of humanity than 
were represented by these unfortunate ''returned 
Calif ornians " it is hardly possible to conceive. 

There was a medical-room in the cabin, with an 
opening like the delivery aperture at a post-office. 
Some poor fellow would come hobbling up, and say, 
"Doctor, I have a friend who is very sick, and I 
want to get some medicine for him." "Can't 
attend to him," would be the reply of the medical 
man within. Short, prompt, and decisive. Two or 
three others would in like manner, in quick succes- 
sion, meet with the same response. 

The steward of the ship went to the captain 
and said, "Captain, that man in 'No. 30 is dead." 
" Dead !" repeats the captain. " Get a sack, put in 
a bushel of coal, and bring him into the cabin, that 
we may read the service over him, and bury him." 
All this is said in a short, quick, abrupt tone of voice, 
such as these peremptory officials are accustomed to 




320 JONAS MOORE. 

exercise. ''Ring the bell foi- the passengers to 
attend the fnneral service." The beautiful funeral 
service of the Episcopal Church is read over the dead 
man by the captain ; which being done, the dead 
body is put upon a plank, and pushed off into the 
sea. 

The steward of the vessel again approaches the 
captain and says, "Captain, that man in ^NTo. 45 
is dead." ••' Dead ! " repeats the commander. '' Let 
me see him." This is- Jonas Moore's room. The 
steward opens the door, and the captain looks 
in upon the dead man. The body lies still, and 
•the face is all covered with a grizzly, long beard, 
the eyes sunk in his head. The captain says, 
''Why, it's too d — d bad to bury a man in this con- 
dition, — it's outrageously savage and barbarous; 
call the barber, and have the man shaved. I won't 
read the service over such a savage-looking object 
as that;" interpolating his remarks with oaths. 
"D — d if I don't give the fellow a decent Chris- 
tian burial, at least." 

The barber was brought, and commenced to 
shave the supposed dead man. After the barber had 
commenced, he found that the man had life in him, — 
that he was not dead, — and so reported to the com- 
mander. He finished the shaving, and charged him 



JOHN REYNOLDS. 321 

five dollars for the operation. Jonas Moore told 
Tiffany, in a whisper, for he was too weak to talk 
aloud. Said he, ^'What do yon think? they charged 
me five dollars for shaving- me." ''Yes," said 
Tiffany, " and that saved your life. If you had not 
been shaved, yon would have been put into a sack 
with a bushel of coal, and thrown overboard." 

Jonas Moore returned home, partially recovered 
his health, and lived many years afterwards in St. 
Louis, where he died. 



John Reynolds was one of the early settlers of 
Illinois. He was born in Tennessee, emigrated to 
the West at an early day, and settled first at Ca- 
hokia, when Illinois was yet a Territory. Having 
been engaged in the Indian fights and warfare with 
the pioneers of the country, he had assumed the 
name of the ''Old Ranger," a title of which he 
was extremely fond. 

He filled many positions of distinction and honor 
in Illinois. He was judge, member of the Legis- 
lature, member of Congress, governor, etc. He 
was a man of most generous impulses, fine natural 

21 



322 JOHN REYNOLDS. 

abilities, but of limited education, — a Western coun- 
tryman. Honest and upright in all his dealings, he 
was governed by the most noble impulses that con- 
trol and direct the actions of men. He was uni- 
versally honored, beloved, and respected by all who 
knew him. 

Gov. John Reynolds was a man of many pecu- 
liarities, as a few anecdotes of his character will 
fully show. He was fond of illustrating the charac- 
teristics of frontier life, and the mannerisms, so to 
speak, of backwoodsism. He wrote and published a 
biographical sketch of himself, — a veiy entertaining 
and interesting book. 

The following stories used to be told of the 
governor: When he was Circuit Court judge in 
the great Prairie State, he used to say to the law- 
yers who practised before him, ''I wish you to get 
up your chicken -fixins ; ' ' meaning that they should 
finish their pleadings in court. On another occa- 
sion, when a criminal had been tried before him 
and convicted of murder, as soon as the verdict of 
guilty w^as given, Judge Reynolds is reported to have 
said, ''Mr. Jones, the jury have found you guilty 
of murder. Will you be kind enough to say to the 
court when it would suit your convenience to be 



ANECDOTES OF THE "OLD RANGER." 323 

hanged? The court,'' he continued, " wishes to con- 
sult your wishes on that point." 

When he was a member of Congress, I met him 
in Washington, and said to him, " Gov. Reynolds, 
how^ do you like life in Washington City as compared 
with Belleville? " ''Well," said he, " Mr. Darby, it 
don't suit me as well, sitting around here on these 
fine silk-cushioned chairs ; I don't feel at home as I 
do at Belleville, sitting around on the logs and fence- 
rails with the boys, and whittling sticks." He always 
called his associates "boys," even if they were sev- 
enty-five or eighty years of age. He w^as proud of 
the name " Old Ranger," which had been given to 
him in early times in Illinois, as an old Indian-fighter. 

The following story we give as merely hearsay : 
He was sent by the State of Illinois to Europe as 
one of the commissioners to sell bonds, to raise funds 
for building the railroads in that State. Before leav- 
ing on his mission, he procured letters of introduction 
to some of the most distinguished gentlemen in Eng- 
land and France. Among others, he had letters 
from the British ministei- to some of the nobility in 
London. When Gov. Reynolds reached the great 
city, he called on a nobleman, who happened to be 
absent at the time, and left his letters of introduction 



324 JOHN REYNOLDS. 

and his card. When his lordship retnrned, and fonnd 
the letters and the card, he sent a note to his Excel- 
lency, expressing his regret at having l)een absent 
when he was called npon, and invited the governor 
to dine with him the next day at f'onr o'clock ; stating 
also, that he would send his carriage at the hour 
named. At the appointed time, a splendid equipage, 
with outriders and driver dressed in livery, called for 
the distinguished stranger. When he came down to 
the carriage, he said, ''How are you, gentlemen? 
how are you? Wniichof you's the duke?" This sal- 
utation rather surprised the specimens of humanity 
in waiting; but they replied, "His lordship is at 
home; we are his servants.'" ''Well," said the 
ex-functionary of Illinois, "get in, get into the 
carriage." They replied, " ]^o, the carriage is for 
you; we ride outside." "What!" said the ex- 
governor, "only one man riding inside, and the 
others outside in the rain." What further astonished 
the new-comer to the society of the English aristocracy 
was, to find his lordship plainly dressed in a neat suit 
of black cloth, while the servants of his household 
were all dressed in gewgaws and fantastic trimmings. 
Gov. Reynolds was a man of great native shrewd- 
ness and observation, but he had lived so long a 



THE LAW LI BRAKY. 3lJ5 

frontier life that he was not prepared for the man- 
ners and customs of aristocratic life which obtained 
in British society. 



The communications which appear below, the 
latter of which contains some interestino- i^eminis- 
cences of the early dajs of the St. Louis bar, suffi- 
ciently explain themselves : — 

St. Louis, December IJ, 187H. 
Hon. John F. Darby, St. Louis., Mo. 

Dear Sir : I have the honor, as secretary of the Law Library 
Association of St. Louis, to inform you that at our last annual 
meeting, held on the 2d instant, a resolution was unanimously 
adopted of which the following is a copy : — 

Resolved., That John F. Darby, Alexander Hamilton, Warwick 
Tunstall, Logan Hunton, and Montgomery Blair be allowed to 
enjoy, for the remainder of their lives, all the privileges of the 
library of this association without the payment of further dues. 

Permit me also to express, on belialf of our association, the 
hope that you may long live to enjoy the benefits of our library ; 
and believe me, dear sir, to be, with much esteem. 

Yours, very respectfully, 

John W. Drydkn, Secretary., etc. 

St. Louis, Mo., December 14, 1878. 

John W. Dryden, Esq., Secretary of the Laic LAhrary Association 

of St. Loins, Mo. 

Sir : I have tlie honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
communication of the 11th instant, informing me that, by the 
unanimous vote of the members of the association, I had con- 



326 THE LAW LIBRARY. 

ferred ii]:)on me, for the remainder of my life, "• all the privileges 
of the Library- Association without the payment of further dues." 

For this distinguished act of kindness on the part of the 
association. I beg leave, in the most courteous terms, to make 
known to the members of the Law Library, through you, my 
sincere thanks and acknowledgments. 

I was one of the original members of the St. Louis bar, who organ- 
ized and created the St. Louis Law Library Association. I am, per- 
haps, the only surviving originator of this institution who lives here, 
and have contributed towards the building u}) of this great reservoir 
of learning for a longer time than any other living man. More than 
forty years ago I became connected with the establishment. As 
a member of the Missouri Legislature, I introduced and had 
passed the existing act of incor[)oration, with the present pro- 
visions of usufructn privileges for all tlie members of the St. 
Louis bar, in opposition to its being made a stock company. 

During the periods that Henry vS. (xcyer, Trusten Polk, and 
James B. Bowlin were members of Congress, they, as members of 
the Law Library, were excused from })aying any dues to the 
association, because they were absent in the public service. While 
I was a member of Congress I was not excused, and paid all dues 
without abatement. 

John E. Darby, Alexander Llamilton, Warwick Tunstall, Logan 
Hunton, Montgomery Blair, and Charles D. Drake are the only 
six survdvors who originally contributed to the l)uilding u[) of the 
library. For many years Alexander Hamilton was judge of the 
St. Louis Circuit Court, and l>y the rules of the corporation was 
exonerated from paying any dues. Warwick Tunstall left the city 
for about twenty years, and settled in San Antonio, Texas ; so that 
he did not contril)ute anything to the library during that period. 
Logan Hunton removed from this city and took up his residence in 
New Orleans, where he resided for many years, and ceased to pay 
any dues to the association. Montgomer}^ Blair went to Washing- 
ton City, where he has lived for many years, and for that period of 
time has paid no money to the library. Charles D. Drake, the other 
survivor, about the year 1846 or 1847, abandoned the city for 



HENKY CLAY. 327 

man}^ years, taking np his residence first in Cincinnati and then 
in New York City ; from whence he returned to St. Louis, where he 
stayed for a few years, and then finally left to make his perma- 
nent abode in Washington City, where he fills an honorable posi- 
tion. 

So it will be seen that all the other original founders of this 
institution of learning have passed off the stage of action or re- 
moved away, whilst I am almost the last one of the original founders 
(this is said not boastingly, but historically) who has continued to 
contribute to its support. With many thanks to you, personally, 
for the kind expressions and good feeling manifested in your letter. 
I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your old friend, 

John F. Darby. 



The visit of Henry Clay to St. Louis was in March, 
1847. It was generally understood, and so announced 
in the newspapers, that he intended to make a visit to 
St. Louis ; and the pr-oniinent Whigs of the town, 
who had been his political advocates and supporters 
all through life, determined to make some demonstra- 
tion in honor of the great man, so long the distin- 
guished leader of the party. Accordingly, the most 
active and prominent members of that ancient and 
respectable party determined to give a public i*e- 
ception to the worthy and distinguished statesman, 
and wrote to Mr. Clay to ascertain his views upon 
the subject. He wrote in reply, declining any public 



328 HENKY CLAY. 

demonstration, or any manifestations of respect on 
the part of his friends, most positively and abso- 
hitely. He said he was coming solely upon private 
business, to sell some lands that he owned out here. 
These lands were all very valuable. He owned the 
tract on which the Calvary Cemetery is now located, 
and he also owned what used to be called the '' Old 
Orchard," or Watkins Tract, — an immense estate. 
The newspapers, for many days before his arrival, 
were full of notices of Henry Clay and his expected 
visit. Early in the morning, about eight o'clock, 
and while at breakfast, we heard the firing of cannon. 
Springing from the table, I said to the company, 
" There is Henry Clay." We ran into the street 
and started for the river. We could see the crowd 
increasing from all points as we went. We came to 
the river at the foot of Plum Street. On reaching 
the levee, we saw two large steamboats, lashed or tied 
together, come up the river with colors flying and 
cannon firing. 

As soon as the two steamers reached the upper end 
of Cahokia Bend, the splendid vessels turned nearly 
directly across the river and made for the Missouri 
shore, almost as low down as Chouteau Avenue. The 
boats slackened their speed and ran very slowly, 
when aliout a hundred yards from the shore, up to the 



LANDS AT ST. LOUIS. 329 

foot of Washington Avenue, where they landed. The 
cannon had ceased filing. The people had filled up 
Front Street for about two blocks, and must have 
numbered three or four thousand. Mr. Clay was on 
deck, surrounded by a goodly number of gentlemen, 
his tall figure to wermg above his comrades, and being 
most conspicuous. 

As they landed, the great crowd of several thou- 
sand people began to rush with eagerness to get on 
the boat next the shore, until the captain became 
alarmed at the careening of the vessel, and ordered the 
men, with handspikes and capstan-bars, to drive the 
people back. In this emergency, Mr. Clay called out 
to the captain of the boat and told him to let him go 
ashore, and relieve his vessel of this ill-timed influx 
of human beings ; to which . he (the captain) most 
willingly assented. Mr. Clay succeeded in i-eaching 
the plank which had been run ashore, and came off 
the first man. From the boat clear back to the ware- 
houses on Front Street there was one solid mass of 
human beings. I pushed and pressed my way through 
this compact body of humanity, and reached Mr. 
Clay just as he stepped off the plank onto the wharf. 
I knew him personally, and fortunately he recognized 
me. 1 had eaten at his table, had seen him many a 
time in Kentucky and in Washington, and had cor- 



330 HENRY CLAY. 

responded with him. As soon as he got off the stage- 
plank I gave him my arm, and shonted out in a loud 
voice, as of one who had authority, ''Make room, 
make room there ; open the way for the statesman of 
the age." The way opened, and Mr. Clay still hold- 
ing on to my arm, I led him through the open space, 
walled on each side by a solid body of humanity, and 
rushed him into J. & E. Walsh's store-house, situated 
on the corner of Washington Avenue and Front 
Street, and up-stairs into their counting-room. 

In the meantime the people kept shouting, yelling, 
and calling for Mr. Clay. At last some half a dozen 
men came to the counting-room door and beckoned 
me out, and requested me to ask Mr. Clay if he 
would be kind enough to come forward and address 
a few words ; that they merely wanted to hear him 
speak a few sentences, — to hear his voice and see 
him. I went to the counting-room and said to him, 
" Mr. Clay, the crowd out here are shouting and hur- 
rahing, and request you to come out and speak to them, 
if it is only a few words." '' Well,'' said he, " Mr. 
Darby, I believe you will have to excuse me ; I would 
rather not say anything. There is no occasion for my 
makiug any reraai'ks this morning." I then went 
forward and informed the crowd that Mr. Clay de- 
clined to address them. 



HIS RECEPTION AT THE PLANTERS' HOUSE. 331 

We had in the meantime sent a messenger down 
to get a carriage to take him to the Planters' House. 
Robert McO'Blenis and B. W. Alexander, stable- 
keepers, had elegant equipages ; both belonged to 
the gi'eat \Yhig party, and, anxious to do honor to 
the great head of that renowned political organiza- 
tion, both went to work to see which could get the 
carriage up first. Mr. Alexander succeeded, and 
sent a splendid carriage, with four fine bay horses ; 
the costly equipage having the top thrown back, so 
that everybody could see the great man. He was 
driven down through Commercial to Vine Street, 
up to Main Street, down Main to Chestnut Street, 
and then up Chestnut Street to the Planters' 
House. 

When he reached the hotel he was welcomed and 
cheered by about two thousand people who had 
congregated there. As I reached the sidewalk in 
front of the hotel, I shouted in a loud and distinct 
voice, " Three cheers for the statesman of the age." 
The cheers were given with great vim. There were 
old men in that meeting of citizens who had voted 
for him from the time they were of age, who had 
never seen him before, and whose eves beamed with 
emotions of joy and gladness. 

Mr. Clay stayed in St. Louis sevei'al weeks. 



332 HENKY CLAY. 

During that time he was engaged in trying to sell 
his lands. He went into the court-room of the St. 
Louis Circuit Court almost every day, to listen to 
the proceedings. There was a case of very consid- 
erable impoi'tance which came up while Mi*. Clay 
was attending court, in which the distinguished 
Hamilton Rowan Gamble and myself were engaged 
as opposing counsel. Mr. Clay did us the great 
honor to sit and listen to the argument of the counsel 
on both sides. 

When the public sale of his lands came off, a 
great body of people had assembled, and were in at- 
tendance at the front door of the court-honse. But 
the prices that the land brought did not suit him, and 
he was greatly disappointed and discouraged at the 
sums bid ; so much so, that he stopped the sale. He 
remarked to the crowd that he suspected they had 
all come to see him instead of to buy his land. 

During Mr. Clay's stay of four or live weeks, 
the leading Whigs and prominent men of the party 
determined to get up a soiree and dance at the 
Planters' House. 

It was intended to be gotten up without formality 
or ceremony. Rather early in the evening Mr. Clay 
and myself went up into the ball-room, where the 
music Avas playing, and where but few persons had 



HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE BALL. 333 

then assembled. We walked around the room, talk- 
mg-, when I thought he seemed a little mortified at 
seeing so small an attendance in the room, especially 
as the party was understood to be in honor of him. 
While I was engaged in talking to some ladies, Mr. 
Clay walked out with some gentleman and went 
down to the parlor of the hotel. 

The good ladies of St. Louis were so extremely 
fashionable that it was quite a late hour before they 
came to the ball. But after nine o'clock they came 
in immense numbers ; so much so, that there was a 
perfect jam. The assemblage was great, but Mr. 
Clay was not there. After consultation with some 
of the most prominent members of that elegant and 
fashionable assembly, it was agreed that Mr. Henry 
S. Geyer and myself should be requested to go 
down to the parlor, as a special delegation, and pre- 
vail upon Mr. Clay to come up and honor the 
company with his presence. We went down accord- 
ingly, and Mr. Geyer being the older man, I proposed 
that he should do the talking ; but he seemed to hang- 
back, and apparently wanted to push me forward, and 
said to me, " You know him better than I do, and I 
wish you to go ahead and be spokesman." When 
we came into the parlor, Mr. Clay was engaged in 
conversation with some persons in the room. We 



334 HENRY CLAY. 

went up to the great statesman, when I said, "' Mi*. 
Clay, there are a great number of ladies and gentle- 
men up stairs who would be very much gratified if 
you would be kind enough to honor the company 
with your presence. Mr. Geyer and myself have 
been appointed a committee to request your attend- 
ance." " Well," said he, *■' I don't care very much 
about it." I then said to him, ''Mr. Clay, I have 
suffered all manner of abuse for your name's sake 
in this country, and we do hope you will be kind 
enough to gratify our people, and come." '•'• Well," 
said he, ''I will go with you." And thereupon he 
walked up stairs to the ball-room with Mr. Geyer 
and myself, and was introduced to many of the 
elegantly dressed ladies, who were so full of vivacity 
and life that the great statesman seemed delighted, 
and enjoyed himself greatly. He was full of life 
and fun ; so that wherevei* he moved he always had 
a crowd of ladies around, and he entertained them 
all, having something pleasant and agreeable to say 
to each one of them. There was a magnetism in 
his personal presence, so that whenever he spoke, 
or walked up and down the room, there was a charm 
that captivated and led everybody within the in- 
fluence of his bewitching smile. 

Mr. Clay was greatly delighted with his visit here ; 



DR. WILLIA.M CAKR LANE. 335 

and he expressed to me afterwards, at Washington, 
the great pleasure that his visit had given liim, — 
where he had been received with so much good feel- 
ing, and entertained in a generous, unostentatious 
way, and with the kindest hospitality and the noblest 
expressions and manifestations of warm-heartedness. 



Dr. William Carr Lane, son of Presley Carr 
Lane and Sarah Stephenson, was born in Fayette 
County, Pennsylvania, on the first day of December, 
1789. His father was an independent farmer, and a 
man of standing and influence, and served the State 
in various official positions of honor and trust for 
twenty out of the thirty years of which he was a 
worthy citizen of that great State. 

William Carr was the third son of a family of 
eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of 
whom only one child of the family is now living, 
namely, Mrs. Anne Adams, of Shelby ville, Ken- 
tucky, who has reached the advanced age of eighty- 
six years. 

He received the rudiments of education at a coun- 
try school in the neighborhood where he was born, and 
at the age of thirteen was sent to Jefferson College, 



336 DK. WILLIAM CARR LANE. 

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained two 
years, and then entered the office of his eldest brother, 
who was then prothonotary of Fayette County. 
Here he remained one year, and acquired some 
knowledge of and acquaintance with the forms of 
law, and the mode and manner of conducting judi- 
cial proceedings. 

On coming of age he entered Dickenson College, 
and took a two-years' course, and in the fall of the 
year 1811 commenced his medical studies under Dr. 
Collins, of Louisville, Kentucky ; his father having 
died and his mother's family removed to Shelby ville, 
Kentucky, in the spring of that year. 

He continued here in the prosecution of his medical 
education until the summer of the year 1813, when 
Dr. Collins, on account of ill-health, removed to IN^ew 
Orleans, and William Carr Lane was left without any 
settled plan for life. At that time a call was made 
upon Kentucky for recruits to fight the Indians in 
the ]Srorth-West Territory, then under the command 
and leadership of Tecumseh and the Prophet. The 
Indians were committing great depredations upon the 
white settlements along the head-waters of the Wa- 
bash, and from whom and their allies, the British, 
our frontier troops had suffered severely in many en- 
counters of the previous year. 



MAKCHES AGAINST THE INDIANS. 337 

Kentucky, which never failed to respond to the 
<3all of her country, was alive with military ardor, 
^nd William Carr Lane, naturally enthusiastic, par- 
took of the spirit of military excitement ; and, long- 
ing for active life, he joined a brigade in an expedition 
under Col. Runnel, of the United States infantry. 
The destination of these troops was Fort Harrison, 
on the Wabash, about sixty miles north of Yin- 
cennes, in the vicinity of which the Indians were 
most troublesome. From this point expeditions were 
made in various directions, to intercept and punish 
the savages ; but as the latter had timely notice, they 
abandoned their villages upon the Mississinoway and 
retired toward the Mississippi. 

The brigade meeting with no success, returned 
to Fort Harrison, then under the command of Maj. 
Zachary Taylor, afterwards president of the United 
States, but only to meet with a more formidable ene- 
my in the bilious fever that prevailed so extensively 
along the whole course of the Wabash River. 

Many of the troops fell sick and were disabled 
for service, and all the available medical skill was 
called into requisition ; and among the rest, though 
very unwillingly, oui* student recruit, who by his care 
and attention secured the good- will of the officers^ 

22 



338 DR. WILLIAM CAEK LANE. 

and was invited to join the mess, and very soon after 
that was appointed snrgeon's mate at Fort Harrison. 
He continned on dnty nntil he also was stricken 
down with the fever and incapacitated for duty, when 
he obtained a furlongh ; and pi-ofiting by the time, 
went to Lexington, Kentncky, where he procnred a 
lot of medical books, and, after a visit to his mother's 
familv at Shelbv\nlle and his friends at Vincennes, 
he made his way on horseback, his saddle-bags f nil of 
books, throngh what was still a hostile coinitry, to 
Fort Harrison. He continned in service here and at 
Fort Knox (Vincennes) nntil in the fall of the year 
1813, when he was again prostrated and disabled by 
sickness ; and behig somewhat tired of an inactive 
army life in garrison (the war being virtually ended 
l)y the defeat of the British nnder Proctor and the 
Indians nnder Tecnmseh at the battle of the Thames) , 
Dr. William Carr Lane resigned his position in the 
army, retnrned to Vincennes, took np his residence 
there, and continned the prosecntion of his medical 
studies. While here, he was offered .a profitable and 
desirable partnership by an able and well-established 
resident physician ; but feeling the necessity of a 
greater and more perfect knowledge hi his profession, 
he went back to Pennsylvania, and attended a course 



APPOINTED SUPvGEON IN THE ARMY. 339 

of lectures in the University of Pennsylvania in the 
winter of the years 1815-16. While pursuing his 
studies here, he received from President Madison, 
without solicitation and at the instance of unknown 
friends, the apjjointment of surgeon's mate in the 
regular army of the United States, and on the twen- 
ty-fourth day of April, 1816, that of post-surgeon, 
which he held as long as he continued in the army, 
or until his resignation, on the thirtieth day of April, 
1819. 

After finishing his studies at the university, he 
returned to Vincennes, and joining Morgan's rifle 
regiment, left for St. Louis ; and on arriving in the 
town, the tenth day of May, 1816, proceeded to the 
cantonment at Belief ontaine, on the Missouii Piver, 
about two miles above the mouth of that stream, which 
was then the established headquarters for military 
operations west of the Mississippi Piver. 

During the next eighteen months Dr. William 
Carr Lane was on duty at the various militar}^ posts 
on the LTpper Mississippi : Fort Crawford (Prairie du 
Chien), Fort Armstrong (Pock Island), Fort Ed- 
wards (Des Moines), and Fort Clark (Peoria). He 
visited all these from time to time, using either canoes 
or horses. As the countrvwas wild and uninhabited, 
he was compelled to camp out moi'e than half the 



340 Dlv. WILLIAM CARR LANE. 

time, and forced to meet hardships, exposure, and 
privations of no ordinary character. 

Again Dr. Lane became somewhat tired of army 
life on a peace estabhshment, and tendered his resig- 
nation, with a view of retiring* from the service and 
•engaging in more active l)asiness. His resignation 
was not accepted, but a furlough was granted, when 
he again returned to the ancient and time-honored 
town of Vincennes, where he had many warm 
fi'iends. Instead of joining the army of Bohvar, 
the dictator, of South America, as he had con- 
templated, he gave uj) the perils and adventures 
of foreign lands and entered into the bonds of 
matrimony, marrying Mary Ewing, of Vincennes, 
daughter of ]N^athaniel Ewing, of that town, on the 
twenty-sixth day of February, 1818. 

Dr. Lane, after his mai-riage, was on duty in the 
military service of his country at Fort Harrison, but 
intended to settle down to the regular practice of 
his profession in Vincennes, as his wife was averse 
to army life, and urged his withdrawal from the ser- 
vice. Dr. Lane had passed a most creditable ex- 
amination before the Medical Board of the State of 
Indiana, and on the eleventh day of May, 1818, re- 
ceived a diploma for the ]3ractice of medicine and 
surgery. Subsequent reflection caused him to change 



TAKES UP HIS RESIDENCE IN ST. LOUIS. 3^1 

his mind in regard to the army, influenced as he 
was by the early associations and warm attachments 
of the gallant officers and polished gentlemen with 
whom he had been so long and so pleasantly asso- 
ciated, and he again accepted service as a surgeon 
in the United States army, at Belief out aine, on the 
Missouri River, in July, where he continued on duty 
until the third day of May, 1819, when he formally 
resigned and finally Avithdrew from the military ser- 
vice, and took up his permanent residence in the 
city of St. Louis, where he commenced the practice 
of medicine, and where he continued to reside until 
his death, in the year 18(33. 

His resignation, however, was accepted l)y the 
government only upon condition that he should con- 
tinue to do service at the military post for six months 
longer, which he did. Dr. Lane's long residence at 
Belief out aine, and his intimate business and social 
relations with the most eminent and prominent 
citizens of St. Louis, gave him a footing among the 
generous and warm-hearted people of the city that 
at once insured him a successful and lucrative prac- 
tice in his profession. He soon formed a partner- 
ship with Dr. Samuel Merry, a most eminent phjsician 
and distinguished practitioner, with whom he contin- 
ued business relations for about ^ve years. 



342 DK. WILLIAM CAKR LANE. 

In the year 1821, Dr. Lane was ap])ointed aid-de- 
camp to (tov. Alexander Me^air, with the rank of 
colonel; a position which he held nntil Febrnary 1, 
1822, when he was made qnarter master-general of 
the State of Missonri. ThisofRee he held nntil the 
fifth day of April, 1823, when he was elected by the 
citizens of St. Lonis as the first mayor. The salary 
was small, and the dnties most laborions. 

In assnming the position conferred npon him, he 
issned a most able and remarka])le message to the 
Board of Aldermen npon the varions snbjects claim- 
ing the attention of the mnnicipal government. The 
establishment of a Board of Health, the proper snr- 
veys and designation of the streets and grading of 
the same, and in fact the whole scope of dnties 
confided to the city government, were embi*aced in 
this message. On the snl)ject of schools he nsed 
this langnage : ''I will hazard the broad assertion 
that a free scliool is more needed here than in any 
town of the same magnitnde in the Union." 

And again, when speaking of the necessity of 
the improvements to l^e made in th(^ t*ity^ fit' nsed tliis 
prophetic langnage, which has been verified by time : 
"The fortnnes of the inhabitants of this city may 
flnctnate, yon ami I may sink into oblivion and onr 
families ])ecome extinct, ])nt the progress of onr city 



HIS POPULAPvITY. 343 

is morally certain ; the causes of its prosperity are 
inscribed npon the very face of the earth, and are as 
permanent as the foundations of the soil and the 
sources of the Mississippi. These matters are not 
brought to your recollection for the mere purpose of 
eulogy^ but that a suitable system of improvements 
may always be kept in view, that the rising of the 
infant city may correspond with the expectations of 
such a \mg\ity futurity. ^"^ 

The city government was fully organized by the 
election of Archibald Gamble, president of the Board 
of Aldermen ; Mackay Wherry, register ; and Sulli- 
van Blood, constable. So that the infant city of St. 
Louis, on the fourteenth day of April, 1823, when 
the municipal government had been fully organized, 
started upon the career of greatness which had then 
been predicted for her by those who laid the founda- 
tion for her wealth, fame, and prosperity. 

Dr. Lane was elected nine times mayor of the city 
of St. Louis : eight regular terms, and once to fill 
a vacancy for a few months, when John F. Darby 
had resigned the office. 

Li the vear 1826, Dr. Lane was elected and served 
as a member of the House of Representatives of 
this State. He was elected as a Jackson man and a 
Democrat, and such was his popularity with the dom- 



344 DR. WILLIAM CARR LANE. 

inant party that he was offered, and could at that 
time have been elected to the United States Senate 
over Col. Thomas H. Benton, who was at that ses- 
sion re-elected for the second time. But Dr. Lane 
positively declined the distingnished position. In 
the winter of the year 1827-8 he announced himself 
as the Democratic candidate for Congress (the 
whole State being entitled to but one member), in 
opposition to Edward Bates, the then Whig member 
from Missouri. Spencer Pettis, who was afterwards 
killed in a duel with Maj. Thomas Biddle, had also 
announced himself as a Democratic candidate. The 
candidacy of two Democrats not being desirable, 
as sure to elect the Whig candidate, it was determined 
to refer the matter to Thomas H. Benton, as the 
political friend of Dr. William Carr Lane, and John 
M. Bass, the political friend of Spencer Pettis. The 
referees met, and decided in favor of Spencer Pettis 
as the candidate, and he was elected against Edward 
Bates. Afterwards, William Carr Lane became dis- 
pleased with Gen. Jackson's political coui'se, and 
attached himself to the Whig party, with wdiich 
party he continued to act for the balance of his life, 
and by which party he was elected to positions of 
honor and distinction whenever he sought political 
j)osition or office. 



APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO. 345 

We have not space in this short sketch to go into 
the details of Dr. Lane's many private enterprises, 
and his snccessful engagements and connection with 
some of the most sldlfnl and eminent medical men 
of the State. 

In the year 1832, when the Blackhawk war came 
on, he was appointed by Gen. Atkinson sui'geon for 
the troops under his command, and served as such 
throughout the campaign. 

In the year 1852, through the assistance of John 
F. Darby, then the Whig i-epresentative in Congress 
from the St. Louis district ; of Edward Bates, and 
of some other warm friends in St. Louis, Dr. William 
Carr Lane was appointed governor of N^ew Mexico 
by President Fillmore. His appointment was made 
without opposition from any quarter. 

As Gov. Calhoun, his immediate predecessor, had 
but recently died. Gov. William Carr Lane was re- 
quired to proceed immediately to his post of duty in 
Santa Fe. The Territorial government was in the 
hands of the military power, and almost in a state of 
anarchy. Gov. Lane started from Washington, 
whither he had gone, and arrived in St. Louis on the 
twenty-fourth day of July, 1852, to find, as he said, 
his best friends as well as his family dissatisfied with 



346 DK. WILLIAM CARR LANE. 

his appointment, mainly on aeconnt of his age and 
the prospective difficulties of the task which he had 
taken upon himself. But, with his accustomed deci- 
sion of character, he had put his hand to the plough 
and did not intend to look back, confident in his 
administrative ability and self-reliance to accomplish 
what was before him. 

Gov. Lane left St. Louis on the 31st of July, 
1852, and, after some short detention by sickness at 
Fort Union, he arrived in Santa Fe on the 9th of 
September following, and was inaugurated on the 
13th of the same month. 

He had no sooner taken the executive office than 
he began to realize the difficulties of his position. 
He had naturally expected aid and support from the 
military authorities ; but Col. Sumner, in command 
of the military forces, retired to Albuquerque, tak- 
ing with him all the troops with the exception of a 
small guard, two days before the governoi-'s inaugu- 
ration. Col. Sunnier took occasion also to reprove 
and reprimand Col. Brooks for jfiring a salute in the 
plaza when the ceremony of installing the governor 
was performed, saying that he (Col. Sunnier) 
" wished it to be distinctly undei'stood that the civil 
government in ^ew Mexico was not to depend in 



DIFFICULTIES OF HIS NEW POSITION. 347 

any Avay upon the niilitaiy authority," and that he 
^'wished CoL Brooks to consider his forces only as 
a guard for the United States mihtary stores." 

As the civil government was in a measure with- 
out military force to sustain its power, without 
money, and almost in a state of anarch}^ ; and as he 
(Col. Sumner) had declared to the department at 
Washington that no civil government could be 
maintained in ^ew Mexico, this present action and 
conduct of his seemed to be taken to verify his 
previous report, and might be considered almost 
insulting to the governor. 

He (Sumner) also ordered the flag, the only 
emblem of the government there, and which had 
floated in the plaza, to be removed ; and when Gov. 
Lane courteously applied to Sumner for the flag, the 
latter i*eplied that he ''was not authorized by the 
government to furnish him with government stores." 
This led to a spicy correspondence between the par- 
ties, which came very near resulting in a duel. During 
the military occupation, there were a large number 
of prisoners fed from the government supplies, and 
when these supplies were withdraAvn, by order of 
Col. Sumner, the prisoners would have been left to 
stai've had not the governor advanced the money out 
of his pocket. 



348 DK. WILLIAM CARR LANE. 

The wretched condition of things in 'New Mexico- 
at that day is somewhat ilhistrated by an exti'act 
from a letter written by Gov. Lane to Col. Snmner 
at the time, and which reads as follows: ''^ever 
was an execntive officer in a more pitiable plight than 
I was at this time. I was an ntter stranger to my 
official duties, without having any competent adviser^ 
and with scarcely an official document on file to 
direct oi* assist my official actions ; the secretary of 
the Territory was likewise lacking in experience of 
civil affairs ; two of the Territorial judges and the 
attorney absent in the States, and one Indian agent 
and one acting agent only in the Territory ; not a 
cent of money on hand, oi* known to be subject to 
the draft of the governor, superintendent of Indian 
affairs, or the secretaiy of the Territory, — not a 
cent in the city, county, or Territorial treasuries, and 
no credit for the country. There were no policemen 
and no constabulary force for either city oi* county, 
and even no police regulations for either the one or 
the other. The prefect of the county was in trouble, 
and not upon duty, and there Avas neither alcalde nor 
aguard in the city or its neighborhood ; nor was there 
a single company of militia organized in the whole 
Territoiy, nor a single musket within the reach of a 
volunteer, should there be an offer of service by any 



^ HE TRlUxMPHS OVEE ALL OBSTACLES. 349 

one ; and you [Col. Sumner] must have been, from 
your official position, duly informed of these thing's." 

Yet, with his characteristic energy and admin- 
istrative ability, Gov. Lane confronted all these 
difficulties and soon reduced things to order. He 
identified himself with the people, and gave them 
courage and confidence, and by his conduct drew to 
bis support the most influential citizens. Even Col. 
Sumner became his friend and supporter, and re- 
stored the flag to its place in the plaza. In fact he 
became the most influential and popular governor 
that 'New Mexico, u]3 to that time, ever had — univer- 
sally honored, beloved, and res])ected. 

But we are not writing a full biography of Dr. 
William Carr Lane : onlv a brief sketch of his 
eventful career. Many events and items of interest, 
therefore, in his private life and official public history 
must, for want of space, be omitted. 

It is not, however, too much to say that to Dr. 
Lane more than to any other individual is due the 
credit of planning and laying out the foundations of 
this great and prosperous city. His foresight, his 
comprehensive mind and correct judgment, did so 
far direct the groundwork of this splendid metropolis 
that its superstructure followed with as much cer- 
tainty as does the elegant edifice rise ujion the 



350 EDWARD D. BAKER. 

foundation laid by the scientific ai-chitect; and the 
people of this grand city owe to his memory some 
monument for his distinguished and invaluable ser- 
vices in their behalf. 

Dr. William Carr Lane was not only a man of 
cultivated intellect, Vnit he was also a man of the 
warmest heart, and governed by the most no])le, 
laudable, and generous impulses that influence and 
govern the actions of true men ; hence, everybody 
who was honored with his acquaintance and friend- 
ship became warmly attached to him. He was, in 
truth and in fact, not only one of the great men of 
the city of St. Louis, l)ut also of the State of 
Missonri. 



In the fall of the year 182(3, a man by 'the name 
of Baker came to St. Louis from England, which 
was his native land. He professed to be a Lancas- 
terian school-master, and had quite a lai'ge family. 
He was the father of Edward D. Baker. As the 
family were possessed of little means, very poor, the 
old gentleman bought a horse and cart and put his 
son Edward, then a boy about thirteen or fourteen 
years of age, to hauling dirt and dohig other small 
jobs about town, for the support of the fauiily. 



HE CHOOSES HIS PROFESSION. 351 

While engaged in this l^nsiness, young Baker 
happened to stop his horse by the sidewalk on 
Market Street, near Third, where the St. Louis Cir- 
cuit Court was then being held, in an old Baptist 
church. The St. Clair Hotel now (1880) occupies 
the site. 

He had never l)efore been where a court Avas in 
session. He stepped inside the door just at the time 
when Edward Bates, then the most distinguished 
speaker at the St. Louis bar, or perhaps in the State 
of Missouri, was addressing a jury. Young Baker, 
the cart-driver, unlettered, uncultivated, and unedu- 
cated, had never heard anything like it before. 
Bates's persuasive eloquence seemed to win upon 
young Baker, and his whole soul Avas wound up to 
the highest pitch of admiration and delight. He 
listened to Bates's speech throughout, and it fixed his 
character for life. 

As soon as Bates had finished his ai-gument, 
young Baker went out of the room, got into his cart, 
and driving home, told his father that he did not 
intend to drive a cart anymore. ''What are you 
going to do?" asked his father, in a somewhat 
excited manner. " I'm going to be a lawyer," said 
young Baker. ''Lawj^er!" repeated the old gen- 
tleman, Avith somewhat of astonishment. ''Yes, 
said young Baker, '' I am going to l)e a lawyer. 



7? 



^ f 



352 EDWARD D. BAKER. 

Edward D. Baker went over to the State of Illi- 
nois, where he engaged in school- teaching, was for a 
time a Baptist preacher, and afterwards " Thomp- 
sonian Doctor;" finally he read law, and became a 
practitioner in that State. He was elected a member 
of Conofress ; and also served as a colonel in the 
Mexican war, where he commanded a regiment from 
the State of Illinois, and acqnitted himself most hon- 
orably. 

Col. Baker afterwards removed to the State of 
California, and settled in San Francisco, where he 
lived for some time. He afterwards removed to 
Oreofon, and was elected a senator from that State 
in March, 1861. He raised a regiment of volnnteers 
in the State of Pennsylvania, soon after the ontbreak 
of the rebellion in 1861, called the " California regi- 
ment," and was killed in battle at Ball's Bluff, Octo- 
ber 21, 1861. 

Col. Edward D. Baker had become one of the 
best stump-speakers in the whole Western country. 
His voice was good, his delivery was fluent, and his 
elocution was pleasant and agreeable. He originally 
belonged to the Whig party, and was esteemed by 
them as one of their most eloquent and powerful 
stump-speakers . 

In the Harrison campaign of 1810, when party 
spirit ran high. Col. Baker took a most active part 



MADAME PELAUIE BERTHOLD. 353 

in the political canvass. A story about Col. Edward 
D. Baker was told, as illustrating the political ambi- 
tion of the young man. In the month of July of 
that year, Col. Baker was returning, on horseback, 
from Springfield, Illinois, to Jacksonville, in that 
State. The road, after leaving the prairie, passed 
through a point of timber. The weather was op- 
pressively hot, and Col. Baker dismounted and took 
a seat on a log to rest and enjoy the cool shade. 
While thus seated, a gentleman, in passing, found 
Baker crying. Being acquainted with him, he 
stopped and inquired the cause of his grief. The 
colonel answ^ered, ''I have just been thinking over 
the matter, and find that I can never be elected presi- 
dent of the United States, because I am not a 
native-born citizen. It is a great calamity and mis- 
fortune to me." 



Madame Pelagic Berthold died at her residence 
in this city on the morning of the 24th of May, 
1875, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Thus 
has departed another one of the ancient inhabitants, 
so long honored, respected, and beloved by every 
one who knew her. Madame Berthold has seen 

23 



354 ^ MADAME PELAGIE BERTHOLD. 

this city rise and grow from a mere trading-post 
to its present proportions. 

Madame Bertliold was the only danghter of Maj. 
Pierre Chonteau, deceased ; and because she was an 
only daughter, the Indians called her ''La Femme 
Tout Seule," or "The Lone Woman.'' She was 
born in St. Louis, the seventh day of October, 1790. 
Her mother, whose maiden name was Kerceneau, 
died when she was a child. Maj. Chouteau had 
been the Indian agent under the French and Spanish 
governments at St. Louis, and in that capacity exer- 
cised more authority over the numerous Indian tribes 
then west of the Mississippi River than any man 
in the whole valley. Maj. Chouteau had, besides this 
only daughter, three sons, viz., Augiiste P. Chouteau, 
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and Liguest Chouteau, all of 
whom died many years ago. He married a second 
time, and had by the second marriage five sons, of 
whom only three are living. 

Pelagic Chouteau was married to Bartholomew 
Berthold, in St. Louis, on the 12th of January, 
1811. Mr. Berthold was a Tyrolese by birth, had 
come to the United States in 1798, was natural- 
ized in Philadelphia in the same year, and after- 
wards lived in Baltimore. After living a short time 
in Ste. Genevieve, in 1809 he came to St. Louis. 



HEK ACCOMPLISHED HUSBAND. 355 

Mr. Berthold came to the United States as secretary 
to Gen. Willot, who had fled from France in con- 
seqnence of his opposition to ^Napoleon, and who 
retnrned to that conntry after the fall of that great 
man. When Napoleon invaded Italy, yonng Berth- 
old became a soldier, and joined those who opposed 
him. He was in the battle of Marengo, where he 
received a cnt from a sabre across the forehead, 
an honorable and visible scar which he carried to his 
grave. 

He was, moreover, a fine scholar, and S])oke the 
French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Latin lan- 
gnages with ease and flnency. When Gen. Lafayette 
visited the city, he was the only gentleman at the 
dinner-table wdio conld speak with ease and elegance 
the languages suited to the different members of 
Gen. Lafavette's suite. 

Mr. Berthold, it was said, was the most finished 
and accomplished merchant of his day in the city 
of St. Louis. He had formed a copartnership in 
the fur business with his brother-in-law, Pierre Chou- 
teau, Jr., which was a most successful and money- 
making concern. 

Afterwards, Bartholomew Berthold, Pierre Chou- 
teau, Jr., John Pierre Cabanne, and Bernard Pratte 
became connected with John Jacob Astor as part- 



356 MADAME PELAGIE BERTHOLD. 

iiers in trade, under the name of the ^'Amei'ican 
Fur Company,'' and made an immense sum of 
money. 

The immense wealth of Mr. Astor, who furnished 
the larger part of the capital, gave double assurance 
to the undertaking and enterprise. It was after- 
wards said that it was undei* the efficient and suc- 
cessful training of Bartholomew Berthold that 
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and John B. Sarpy became 
the great, successful, prosperous, and prominent 
business-men that they were. Bartholomew Berthold^ 
after a life of active business pursuits, died here in 
the year 1831, leaving his widow. Pelagic Berthold/ 
who survived till the 24th of May, 1875. 

Madame Berthold, in her youth, was a belle of 
no ordinary charms. She was the contemporary, 
associate, friend, and companion of the Misses Gra- 
tiot, the Misses Labadie, the Misses Cerre, the Misses 
Yalle — all ladies of beauty, all of the first families, 
all accustomed to the elegancies and convfiiiencies 
of wealth, cultivation, and refinement. Her father's 
house, and afterwards her husband's and her own, 
were the scene of unbounded hospitahty and welcome 
to every stranger. 

V^e have never seen the man yet, come from what 
part of the world he may, who knew St. Louis fifty 



A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 357 

or sixty years ago, and was welcomed and received 
by these kind-hearted, generous, and noble people, — 
honest, upright, and unsuspecting as they were, — 
but was touched by these friendly greetings of 
cordial welcome. Talk to one of the visitors who 
knew St. Louis in those primitive days of purity and 
happiness, before the almighty dollar had crossed the 
Mississippi Hiver, and his heart swells and his eyes 
fill with emotion at the recollection of the generous 
kindness and unselfish hospitality these people ex- 
tended to him. 

Madame Berthold, ever since the death of her 
husband, has lived in the midst of her family, 
surrounded by affectionate and loving children. 
Madame Berthold had the following children : Pierre 
A. Berthold, Augustus Berthold, Tulia Berthold, 
Amedee Berthold, Clara (now widow^ of William L. 
Ewing, deceased), Frederick Berthold, and Emilie, 
the wife of Maj. George G. Waggeman, late of the 
United States army. Augustus and Frederick are 
dead ; all the rest are living. 



In the year 1858, William Risley was elected 
treasurer of the county of St. Louis. He was an 
old citizen, a man of great respectability of chaarc- 



358 A HEAVY DEFALCATION.^ 

ter and standing, and of nnqnestioned integrity and 
honesty. He gave bond in the sum of $300,000, 
and entered upon the discharge of the duties of his 
office accordingly. 

At that time the banking-house of John J. 
Anderson & Co. was in existence, and doing quite 
an extensive l:)usiness. This banking-house made 
propositions to WilUam Risley, then treasurer, offer- 
ing to allow him interest (as high as ten per cent per 
annum, it was said) on such portion of the public 
funds as he might feel disposed to deposit with said 
banking-house. The inducements were so great that 
the county treasurer was overpersuaded, upon the 
repeated and solemn assurances given, that in any 
event he should be protected. Thereupon he opened 
an account with that banking-house, and deposited 
therein, from time to time, a very considerable sum 
of the public mouey. 

The County Court had in the meantime become 
so odious and obnoxious that an act of the Legisla- 
ture was passed abolishing it, and a new tribunal 
was created by law for St. Louis County, called 
the County Commissioners' Court, for the transaction 
of the county l)usiness. The County Commissioners 
met for the first time, August 15, 1859, and con- 
sisted of John H. Lightner, B. Farrar, Peregrine 
Tippett, Alton E. Easton, and William Taussig. 



THE TREASURER'S ACTION DISAPPROVED. 359 

After twenty-one ballotings, John H. Lightner was 
elected president of the Board. Mr. Lightner made 
it a rnle to settle with the county treasurer himself, 
as president of the Board. He scrutinized every 
item and voucher presented, and after the accoimt 
was examined and the balance struck, he had the 
treasurer show him, from his books, Avhere the money 
was deposited. 

By this means the treasurer showed that he had 
about one hundred thousand dollars on deposit and se- 
curities with the banking-house of John J. Anderson 
& Co. On this showing, Mr. Lightner refused to ap- 
prove of and sanction the settlement presented by the 
county treasurer. Some of the judges of the St. Louis 
County Commissioners' Court, when they became 
aware of this fact, became dissatisfied with the action 
of the treasurer in so depositing a portion of the 
public money. Two or three of the judges deemed 
it their duty to see and talk with Mr. Risley, the 
treasurer, privately, and to remonstrate against his 
action in keeping any of the public money in this 
banking-house. And they urged upon him, in re- 
spectful iDut decided terms, that he should keep all 
the public funds which came into his hands as treas- 
urer of the county, in the Bank of the State of 
Missouri ; assuring him that the County Commis- 



360 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

sioners, wlio were well disposed towards him, felt 
uneasy in reg-ard to his depositing any portion of the 
public money in the banking-house in question. 

Mr. Risley, honest, confiding, and unsuspicious, 
did not feel pleased that any one of the judges of 
the County Commissioners' Court should attempt to 
direct or advise him in this matter, and became a little 
indignant. He said, in reply to the parties and offi- 
cials who thus ventured to talk with him on the 
subject, ''What business is that o' your'n? I'll 
carry the money in my hat if I see proper. I 
give security for the safe-keeping of the money as 
treasurer." Illustrating, by his answers, the deep 
and abiding confidence he had in the parties with 
whom he had made the deposits, and which, in the 
honesty of his heart, he considcu-ed perfectly safe. 

After awhile a rumor, which at first was uttered 
in whispers, became genei-al town-talk, that the 
banking-house in question was in failing circum- 
stances, and that the concern had one hundred thou- 
sand dollars on dej^osit belonging to the treasurer 
of the county, which he was unable to get from the 
bank, and which he would in all probability have to 
lose. 

The judges of the County Commissioners' Court 
met to consider the matter and take counsel in rela- 



ORDER INCREASING THE TREAiSURER'S BOND. 361 

tion to their treasurer. They advised with their 
attorney as to what to do. The county attorney ad- 
vised the judges that they could not remove the county 
treasurer ; that he had been elected by the people, 
and held an elective office. But, under the direction 
and advice of their attorney, the Board made the fol- 
lowing order : — 

Friday, November 2, 1860. 

The Board met pursuant to adjournmeut. Treasurer's bond. 
Mr. Lio'htner submitted the followino- for the consideration of the 
Board : — . 

Wliereas^ The revenues of this county are annually increasing, 
and it appearing to the Board, after having examined into the 
sufficiency of the official bond of William Risley, treasurer of the 
county of St. Louis, that said bond is insufficient in amount to se- 
cure the moneys of St. Louis County which are now in and liable 
to come into the hands of said treasurer, therefore, it is — 

Ordered, That said William Risley, treasurer of St. Louis 
County, be and is hereby required, on or before the nineteenth 
da}'- of November, 1860, to give a new official bond to said county 
in the sum of $500,000, with such securities (resident landholders 
of the county) as shall be approved by the Board ; and that the 
secretary of this Board cause a certified copy of this order to be 
delivered to the said treasurer without delay. 

Whereupon Mr. Tippett moved to postpone any action on the 
same until Monday next ; which motion was lost. And thereupon 
the proposal of Mr. Lightner, as herein above recorded, was de- 
clared to be the order of this Board, by the following vote : — 

Ayes — Messrs. Fisse, Farrar, Holmes, Taussig, and Lightner. 
Mr. Tippett declined to vote. 

Mr. Risley was immediately served with a copy 
of the order. All the collectors and officers who 



362 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

were in the habit of paying money into the county 
treasury were notified not to pay any more money 
into the hands of William Risley, as treasurei* of the 
county of St. Louis, until the further order of the 
court. It was a most difficult position in which to be 
placed : to require a man reported as a defaulter in 
such a heavy amount, although he had not used or 
spent the money himself, to give an additional heavy 
bond. 

In the meantime there was much talk about the 
defalcation. My life-long friend Marshall Brother- 
ton came to me in great distress. He told me that 
he was ruined forever ; that William Risley, as 
treasurer of the county of St. Louis, Avas reported 
a defaulter to the extent of one hundred thousand 
dollars; that he (Marshall Brotherton) was on his 
bond as one of his responsible and principal securi- 
ties, and that some of the co-securities on the bond 
would not be able to make good their pro rata 
amount. 

I had been the friend of Mr. Marshall Brotherton 
from his very boyhood. I had assisted to make him, 
and his brother also, sheriff of the county — twice 
each. I had taken an active part in his election, 
and had assisted to make him judge of the County 
Court ; and I had in like manner also contributed 



MK. DARBY UNDERTAKES TO SETTLE IT. 36»;^ 

to make him treasm*er of the county, and had gone 
on his hond as security for a heavy amount of money. 
In fact, I had assisted and aided him always when 
he needed a friend. In the hour of tribulation and 
trouble, and in the deep anguish and distress of mind 
in which he then was, he came to me as his ever-reli- 
able friend, counsellor, and adviser. 

When he asked me what he should do, I told 
him not to be alarmed ; that all he had to do was to 
pay up the defalcation of one hundred thousand 
dollars. ''My goodness," said he, '' I cannot raise 
a hundred thousand dollars; that's impossible." I 
said to him, "Mr. Brotherton, I'll get you out of 
this scrape." '*^IIow?" said he. I replied, ""By 
paying up the one hundred thousand dollars. I can 
raise the one hundred thousand dollars," said I, ''and 
will do it." I told Mr. Marshall Brotherton to let 
me manage the affair, and that I would relieve him 
from the difficulty. 

I went innnediately to see some of the judges of 
the County Commissioners' Court, to inquire into 
the affair. Those with whom I conversed informed 
me that the defalcation was reckoned at about one 
hundred thousand dollars, and that unless Mi*. Risley 
gave the additional bond required, he would have to 
be removed and his securities held responsible for 



364 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

the amount. I then said to each of the judges that 
I spoke to — talking to them privately and separately, 
off the hench — that if the securities paid up the 
amount of the defalcation promptly, and without 
legal steps being taken against them, there would be 
no cause for bringing suit on the bond of the treas- 
in*er. To which they replied, certainly not. There- 
npon I told the judges, particularly Holmes and 
Tippett, with whom I mostly talked, that in the event 
of Mr. Risley being removed, the County Commis- 
sioners' Court, as I undei-stood it, had the power to 
appoint a treasurer in his stead. They said such was 
their understanding of the law. I then told and 
jDroposed to these gentlemen of the County Commis- 
sioners' Court, as I talked to them separately, that 
m case Mr. Risley was removed, and they w^ould ap- 
point Marshall Brotherton treasurer of the county 
of St. Louis in his stead, I would agree to pay up the 
whole amount of the hundred thousand dollars defal- 
cation immediately, without suit, and free of all cost 
and expense to the city. 

To aid me in carrying this measure, I got my 
good friend Col. O'Fallon to see Judge Lightner 
and other members of the Countv Commissioners' 
Court, which he did. I also stated to these gentle- 
men and urged upon them that Marshall Brotherton 



A FAIR PROPOSITION. 365 

was well known, having been treasurer of the county 
before, as well as sheriff and judge of the County 
Court, and the county would not lose a cent. The 
gentlemen to whom I spoke said the proposition 
seemed fair, honorable, and reasonable, and certainly 
for the best interest of the county, and they assured 
me they would agree to it. 

I went immediately then to see my old friend Sul- 
livan Blood, at that time president of the Boatmen's 
Savings Institution, — the same institution of which 
I was one of the founders, and foi* whose success I 
had labored with Mr. Blood and others, and in which 
I was at that time the heaviest stockholder. I told 
Mr. Blood that I wanted the institution to discount 
Marshall Brotlierton's note, at sixty days, with my 
indorsement, for fifty thousand dollars ; explaining 
to him for what purpose I wanted the money and the 
uses to which it was to be applied ; and at the same 
time explaining and telling Mr. Blood that the rev- 
enue was just being collected and paid into the 
county treasury, and that as soon as Marshall Bi"oth- 
erton was appointed treasurer, under the ari-angement 
I had made and proposed, it would not be very long 
before, as treasurer of the county, he would have a 
miUion or a million and a half of dollars of the public 



366 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

moneys in his hands, and perhaps more, a large por- 
tion of which he (Mr. Brotherton) would deposit in 
the Boatmen's Savings Institution; and that the 
institution could very well afford to lend fifty thou- 
sand dollars, when there was a prospect of thereby 
gaining a million oi' more dollai's on deposit, and an 
average deposit probably never less than one or two 
hundred thousand dollars ; that even in the event of 
Mr. Marshall Brotherton' s death, I considered I was 
good foi' the amount. Mr. Blood consulted with 
some members of the Board, and the fifty-thousand- 
dollar note was promptly discounted. 

I then went to the State Savings Association, at 
the head of which, at that time, was Isaac Rosenfeldt 
as cashier, and got that association to discount Mar- 
shall Brotherton' s note for forty thousand dollars, 
drawn in my favor and by me indorsed, payable in 
sixty days, upon the like representations as made to 
the Boatmen's Savings Institution, and upon a prom- 
ise of a deposit of a part of the public moneys. With 
the proceeds of these two notes, amounting to ninety 
thousand dollars, and some cash which Mr. Brother- 
ton and myself had on hand, we made up the sum of 
one hundred thousand dollars. 

The County Commissioners' Court met IS^ovem- 



MARSHALL BKOTHERTON APPOINTED TREASURER. 367 

ber 20, 1860, when the followmg proceedings were 
had : — 

In the matter of the treasurer's bond: WiUiam Risley removed 
from office, and Marshall Brotherton appointed county treas- 
urer. 

On this day personally appeared William Risley, county' 
treasurer ; and being demanded to produce and file a new bond 
in the sum of $500,000, in compliance with the order of the Board 
of the 2d instant, and said Risley failing to file said bond, and 
making default therein, the Board unanimously order that said 
William Risley be removed from the office of county treas- 
urer ; and he is hereby directed to prepare his accounts, without 
delay, for settlement. 

And thereupon Mr. Holmes moves the Board to appoint 
Marshall Brotherton to fill the vacancy, in the treasurership of 
St. Louis Count3% which motion is sustained by the following 
vote: Ayes — Messrs. Easton, Fisse, Holmes, Tippett, and Light- 
ner. Nays — Messrs. Farrar and Taussig. And the said Broth- 
erton being appointed to the office of county treasurer, he is 
hereby directed to present to this Board, without delay, a o-ood 
and sufficient bond, in the sum of $500,000, for the consideration 
of this Board. 

November 20, 1860. 
Treasurer's bond approved. 

Marshall Brotherton, count}^ treasurer, files his official bond, 
in the penal sum of $500,000, with himself as principal, and 
John F. Darb}^ James H. Lucas, Charles K. Dickson, Gerard B. 
Allen, John How, Erastus Wells, Isaac H. Sturgeon, William 
M. McPherson, and Felix Coste as securities, and conditioned 
according to law, which bond this Board approve. 

At that time (N^ovemher 23, 1860) William 
Bisley was indebted to the county in the sum of 
$247,653.96. The following is the entry of record : 



368 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

William Risley, late county treasurer, this day files the receipt 
of Marshall Brotherton, treasurer, for the sum of $247,653.96, 
the said amount being the balance found to be in the hands of 
said Risley, upon settlement had with this Board on j'-esterday, 
which said sum is now approved by the Board. 

^ This included the one hundred thousand dollars 
uneollectable in the bank of John J. Anderson & Co. 
Immediately Judge Lightner demanded a settlement 
with the new treasurer, Marshall Brotherton, which 
was had ; and when the balance was struck, and the 
judge asked where was the money, the treasurer pro- 
duced his bank-books, showing that the cash was all 
on hand in the Bank of the State of Missouri, the 
Boatmen's Savings Institution, and the State Savings 
Association, which we had provided by procuring the 
discounts mentioned. 

At that time I could have raised the one hundred 
thousand dollars on my own resources, had it become 
absolutely necessary, to save my friend, and would 
have done so independently of the two institutions 
named. Lucas and other men of property went on 
the official bond of Marshall Brotherton, as treasurer, 
for five hundred thousand dollars ; but none of them 
would indorse his note for ninety thousand dollars, 
payable in sixty days, nor run the hazard of having 
to pay that amount of money in so short a time, 
although they were, many of them, most able to 
do this. 



THE NOTES FINALLY TAID OFF. 369 

The iiDderstanding and agTeement with the two 
banks at the time was, that when the notes so dis- 
counted should become due, at the end of sixty days, 
the same slvjuld be renewed upon a certain amount 
of principal being paid. And so at each renewal 
the notes were reduced and paid off by degrees, till 
fully dischai-ged. In the meantinie Mr. Brotherton, 
as treasurer, had deposited in both these banking 
institutions a large amount of public money, on 
which he was allowed by these moneyed concerns 
interest at the rate of four per cent per annum. 
And as the amounts on deposit were large, the inter- 
est amounted to a considerable sum at the renewal of 
each note; and wnth the income of the treasurer's 
salary, and some small amounts collected fi*oni one 
or two of his co-securities, the notes so discounted 
were finally fully paid off and satisfied, and my 
friend was saved from l)eing broken up. My good 
friend Marshall Bi'otherton always recognized these 
acts of personal friendsliip, and often expressed his 
sincere obligations and acknowledgments to me for 
my great friendship and kindness. 

Time rolled on. Gov. McClurg, governor of the 
State of Missouri, with whom I was on most agreeable 
terms of personal friendship, and who was a nephew 
of Marshall Brotherton, had in the kindness of his 

24 



370 A HEAVY DEFALCATION. 

heart, and on the score of ancient personal relations, 
sent nie a commission as notary pnblic. Mr. Broth- 
erton called at my office to see me, one day, when I 
mentioned to him that Gov. McClnrg had sent me 
a commission as notary public, when he said very 
promptly, '' I will not go on your bond as notary ; " 
which official bond was then five hundred dollars 
only. To which I most readily replied, ''You had 
better wait till I ask you.'' The recoixls of the St. 
Louis County Court and the County Commissioners' 
Court, and of the banking institutions referred to, 
contain the evidence of this historical statement, as 
well as some living Avitnesses who have knowledge 
and cognizance of all the facts. 

Gospel of St. Matthew. 

(Chap. xiniL, begirmiiu/ at the 23d verse.) 

23. Therefore is the kiiiiidom of heaven hkeiied unto a certain 
king, which woukl take account of his servants. 

24. And when he had beo-un to reckon, one was brouo-ht unto 
him, wliich owed him ten thousand tak'nts. 

25. Bnt forasnuich as he had not to pay, his lord commanded 
him to l)e sokl, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and 
payment to be made. 

2(1. The servant therefore fell do^vn, and worshipped him, 
sa^'ing, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 

27. Tiien the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, 
and loosed him, and forgave him the de])t. 

28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his 
fellow-servants, wliich owed him a hundred pence : and he laid 



HENRY S. GEYER. 371 

hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that 
thou owest. 

29. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and l)esought 
him, saying-, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 

30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, 
till he should pay the debt. 

31. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, the^^ were 
very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 

32. Then his^lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 
O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou 
desiredst me : 

33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fel- 
low-servant, even as I had pity on thee? 

34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the torment- 
ors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if 
ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their tres- 
passes. 



Henry S. Geyer was a man of very distingnished 
ability, and an able lawyer. It was he who made 
the great argnment before the Supreme Court of 
the United States in the Dred Scott ease, which 
took such a political turn, and which caused Wil- 
liam H. Seward and other Abolitionists to denounce 
Chief Justice Taney so severely. All the arguments 
and the principal authorities and points presented 
in that case were made by Mi\ Geyei*. As a lawyer, 
Mr. Geyer Avas ])y common consent considered the 
head of the bar in Missouri. On one occasion a 



372 HENKY S. GEYER. 

suit was bi'ought in the St. Louis Circuit Court 
against a mechanic, for the unskilful and unwork- 
manlike manner in which, as was charged, the de- 
fendant had built what was then called an ox-mill, — 
a mill that was constructed with a wheel on an in- 
clined plane, upon which the weight of the oxen 
produced the power, the oxen walking on the wheel 
that ran undei' them. The plaintiff had a man by 
the name of David B. Hill, a carpenter and builder, 
and a mechanic of great respectability, to examine 
the work and make a statement of the defects in 
its construction, as a basis upon which to estimate 
his damages. Wlien the suit came to trial, Mr. 
Geyer was employed as counsel for the defendant. 
As soon as Mr. Hill had been examined as a witness 
foi- the plaintiff, and given his testimony at great 
length and in detail, as directed by the plaintiff's 
counsel, the witness was turned over to Mr. Geyer 
to cross-examine. The first question Mr. Geyer 
asked him was, "Mr. Hill, you have discovered 
perpetual motion, haven't you? " "Yes, sir," said 
Mr. Hill, " I have." Mr. Geyer then said, " Stand 
aside, sir." Mr. Geyei* then went to the jury upon 
the evidence of Mr. Hill, saying that he was in 
many respects a good man, and generally meant 
well, but that he was insane on the subject of 



PERPETUAL MOTION. 373 

mechanics, as they saw when he gave his testimony. 
It was a notorious fact that Hill had for ahout 
twenty years been at work to discover perpetual 
motion, which all the jury well knew. Mr. Geyer, 
with great force and power, amplified, enlarged upon, 
and ridiculed the idea of Mr. Hill's swearing to 
such an absurdity, until he got the court and jury, 
as well as everybody in the court-room, to laughing ; 
and finally obtained a verdict foi* his client, simply 
on the answer of the witness that he had found out 
perpetual motion. 

David B. Hill was a noted character in St. 
Louis. He died in St. Louis about the year 1875, 
more than eighty-three years of age, working up 
to the day of his death at his hobby. 

Mr. Hill wore purple spectacles, with side as 
well as front glasses. He was exceedingly fond of 
taking snuff, and talked through his nose. On 
one occasion he was sure he had discovered per- 
petual motion, and invited a good many lawyers to 
come down and see the model of the machine. 
When the gentlemen had arrived and were examin- 
ing the piece of mechanism, Mr. Hill, taking out 
his snuff-box, said, ''^ow, gentlemen, [snuffing] 
it only wants a little moi-e power on this side of the 
wheel, [snuffing] and it will then run to all eternity." 



374 HENRY S. GEYER. 

[Taking more snuff.] Among the gentlemen who 
went to examine the machine was Joshua Barton, 
who was afterwards killed in a duel hy Rector. 
Mr. Barton, aftei- looking for awhile at the in- 
vention, said, ''Mr. Hill, I will tell you how to 
find out perpetual motion, and how it is to ])e de- 
monstrated. Mr. Hill, just take hold of the seat 
of your hreeches with your hands and lift yourself 
off the ground, and then, Avhen you shall have done 
that, you will have found out the secret of perpetual 
motion." This remark from Joshua Barton caused 
Mr. Hill to cease any further explanation of his 
hivention. 

Henry S. Geyer was born in Frederick County, 
Maryland, in 1798, and came to St. Louis in 1815, 
having adopted the profession of the law. He pub- 
lished Geyer' s Digest of the Territorial Laws of 
Missouri. Lie had seen service in the war of 1812. 
He took an active part in politics in Missouri, was 
several times elected to the Legislature, and was 
twice made speaker of the House of Representatives. 
In the year 1851 he was elected by the Legislature 
of Missouri to the L^nited States Senate, as suc- 
cessor to Thomas H. Benton. He died in St. Louis, 
March 5, 1859. 

In the 2'reat land-case of Strother a^rciinst Lucas, 



HIS GREAT LEARNING AND ABILITY. 375 

tried in the Supreme Court of the United States, Mr. 
Geyer was associated with WilUani Wirt as counsel 
for the defence, Chief Justice Marshall presiding. 
The great learning and ability shown by Mr. Geyer 
in the argument of that cause somewhat surprised 
the court; so much so that tlie learned chief justice 
expressed his astonishment, in a piivate conversation 
off the bench, at finding so much learning come from 
west of the Mississippi River. He appeared to much 
better advantage before the court than did Mr. Wirt, 
because he better understood, perhaps, the subject 
of the origin of the French and Spanish titles and 
grants. 

Mr. Geyei* gained his cases by the force and power 
of his reasoning. He used no copiousness of lan- 
guage or polished sentences ; on the contrary, he had 
rather a limited command of language and expression. 
Where most men failed in the argument of a difficult 
point, Geyer always succeeded. 

The great and distinguished ability wdth which 
Mr. Geyer conducted the defence in the Darnes ti'ial 
for murder, in the St. Louis Criminal Court, caused 
that trial to be repul)lished in book form in Boston. 
Mr. P. Dexter Tiffanv. a lawver then livino* in St. 
Louis, informed the wiiter of this sketch that he 



:^76 GEORGE K. McGUNNAGLE. 

went to Boston directly after the Dames trial had 
been republished in that city, and while thei-e met 
with Rufus Choate. That eminent criminal lawyer, 
hearing- that Mr. Tiffany, from St. Louis, was in the 
city, and tliat he knew Henry S. Greyer personally, 
called to state that he was sti'uck and charmed with 
the great ability and talent displayed by Mr. Geyer, 
and expressed himself in the most enthusiastic terms 
as to the manner in which Mr. Greyei", as the senior 
and leading counsel, had conducted the defence. He 
asked Mr. Tiffany many questions about Mr. Geyer, — 
about Mr. Geyer' s size, about his physique, about 
his voice, about tha color of his hair and eyes, and 
whether he used gestures in speaking. 



The death of George K. McGunnagle revives 
some recollections of the past. More than half a 
century ago I attended his wedding, in this city, when 
he married Elizabeth Starr, the sister of Henry S. 
Geyer' s first wife; and of all the persons who were 
present on that interesting and joyons occasion, I 
was the only survivor left to attend his funeral. 

The death of Mr. McGunnagle brought to my 



A GATHEPvlNG OF OLD CITIZENS. 



377 



mind another fact. On the first day of Jnne, 1858, 
I determined to give a dinner and entertainment to 
all the old men, citizens of 8t. Loins, who were 
engaged in business here when I was admitted to 
the bar, on the fourteenth day of May, 1827. The 
entertainment was given at my dwelling, then situ- 
ated on the south-west corner of Fifth and Olive 
Streets. The following gentlemen wei'e invited, to- 
wit : — 



•/ 



1. 


Col. John O'Fallon, 


16. 


2. 


Dr. William Carr Lane, 


17. 


8. 


Dr. Robert Simpson, 


18. 


4. 


Jiuloe Peter Ferguson, 


19. 


5. 


Joseph Charless, 


20. 


6. 


Archibald Gamble, 


21. 


7. 


Thornton Grimsley, 


2-2. 


S. 


Henry Shaw, 


23. 


9. 


John Finney, 


24. 


10. 


William Finney, 


25. 


11. 


Charles Keemle, 


2(5. 


12. 


John H. Gay, 


27. 


13. 


John Simon ds, 


28. 


14. 


Samuel WiUi, 


29. 


15. 


Louis A. Labeaume, 


30. 



Edward Bates, 
Sullivan Blood, 
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., 
Robert Campbell, 
Edward Walsh, 
George K. McGunnagle, 
Henry Von Phul, 
Louis A. Benoist, 
Daniel D. Page, 
Bernard Pratte, 
Hamilton R. Gamble, 
Asa Wilgus, 
Augustus Kerr, 
Thomas Andrews, 
Augustus H. Evans, 



31. Nathaniel Paschall. 



In all, thirty-one persons. It will be seen that dur- 
ing the last twenty years they have all died ex- 
cept two, namely, Bernard Pratte and Henry Shaw, 
who are the only surviving guests present on that 



378 GEOKGE K. McGUNNAGLE. 

festive occasion. And of these distinguished indi- 
viduals, all lived to a good old age, and all except 
two died a natural death, — Joseph Charless and John 
Simonds, Jr., — Charless being murdered by J. W. 
Thornton, on Market Street, St. Louis, between 
Third and Fourth Streets (a criuie foi* which Thoi-n- 
ton was tried, convicted, and hanged), and John 
Simonds, Jr., was accidentally killed on the Iron 
Mountain Railroad. 

These were the men that had united and contrib- 
uted to lay the foundations, and contributed to build 
up this proud and prosperous city. Take them all 
hi all, a nobler set of men never existed. In mind, 
in ability, in energy and capacity, and all the 
attril^utes which constitute human excellence and 
greatness, they will favorably compare Avith the like 
numl)er of men in any part of the whole civilized 
world. 1^0 wonder, therefore, that this great city 
should grow, and go on to greatness, glory, and 
grandeur, under their auspices. 

It was my pride and privilege to have knoAvn all 
these men most intimately from my very boyhood. 
They were my friends, with whose confidence and re- 
gard I was honored, and with whom I had had many 
transactions .in business, involving- laroe amounts. 
With the usual allowance for the frailties of human 



JOHN Mcknight. 379 

nature in different individuals, they were all men of 
warm heai'ts, and governed by the most noble im- 
pulses and manly instincts of our nature. 



John McKnight, who died on his farm, a few 
miles west of the city of St. Louis, in the year 1875, 
was one of the first American settlers that came to 
St. Louis, having arrived here in the year 1815. He 
was born in Augusta County, Virginia, and came to 
St. Louis when he was a mere boy, with his uncle, 
John McKnight, after whom he was named. He 
lived in St. Louis, clerking for various parties, and 
seeking employment as best he could. In the year 
1822, when the Legislature sat at St. Charles, John 
McKnight went up there, at the instance of one of 
the representatives of St. Louis County, a man of 
influence and position, under the promise that this 
man of distinction and power would exert himself 
and get young McKnight employment as a clerk in 
some capacity connected with the Legislature. Mr. 
McKnight went to St. Charles, and the friend who 
had invited him to come there, and had voluntarily 
tendered his official aid and support, in the language 
of McKnight hhnself, ''went hack upon ]iim,-\ 



380 .JOHN Mcknight. 

Young* McKnight was without money, and felt 
deeply the great disappohitment and bad faith which 
he had experienced in his laudable efforts to get 
into honorable employment. He told the story of 
the bad treatment he had i-eceived to that whole- 
souled backwoodsman, the ''Ring-tailed Panter," 
(Parmer), who was then a senator, and who gen- 
erously busied himself immediately in behalf of 
John McKnight, and got for him one of the most 
lucrative clerkships in the gift of the Legislature. 
After wai'ds Mr. McKnight read law in this city 
with the Hon. Henry S. Geyer, but he never at- 
tempted to practice his profession ; and subsequently, 
when Mr. Geyer was appointed by the Legislature to 
superintend the printing, examining the proof-sheets, 
and pul)lication of the first Revised Statutes of Mis- 
soui-i, John McKnight assisted him, and transcribed 
for the printers, from the official rolls, nearly every 
one of the statutes. In the winter of the year 1826, 
John McKnight left St. Louis for Santa Fe, New 
Mexico, and went thence to Chihuahua : first going 
to his uncle, Robert McKnight, then in the mines of 
Mexico. After that he established himself, in the 
year 1827, in business as a merchant in Chihuahua. 
He lived there some twelve or thirteen years, where 
he had accumulated a very handsome fortune, — win- 



LIVES IN RETIREMENT. 381 

ning the confidence, esteem, and respect of every- 
body with whom he came in contact. When about 
leaving for home. Gov. Armijo handed to Mr. Mc- 
Knight some ten thousand dollars in money, to bring 
to this country and place to his credit in l^ew York ; 
and when Mr. McKnight offered to give a receipt for 
it, the governor refused to accept it, saying, "All 
that I want is your word ; for, by taking a receipt, it 
would seem to imply that I doubted your honesty." 
Mr. McKnight returned to St. Louis from Chihua- 
hua, married a Miss McCutchen, and lived in retire- 
ment on his farm, about ten miles west of the city, 
up to the time of his death. He had quite a large 
amount of capital loaned out on real estate in the 
city of St. Louis, and left an estate estimated to 
be worth about three hundred thousand dollars. 
During the latter part* of his life he seemed to take 
great pleasure in coming into the city to see and 
talk over with old friends early events in St. 
Louis. He was a man of fine mind, and had read 
mankind in all the lights and shades of human 
nature. Quiet and unobtrusive in liis manner, he 
was yet withal a man of the warmest heart and most 
generous impulses. 

They were men of great energy and enterprise. 
There were four brothers — John, Thomas, James, 



382 JOHN Mcknight. 

and Robei't — and two bi'others-in-law, Mr. Mc- 
Cntchen and Mr. Jameson, who had married their 
sisters, and who hved on farms in the county of St. 
Louis. The Rev. Mr. Fhnt, more than forty-five 
years ago, in his " Ten Years in the Valley of the 
Mississippi," paid a touching tribute to this family. 
^ John McKnight, an uncle of the present subject, 
was never married. He and Thomas Brady composed 
the firm of McKnight & Brady, and Thomas Mc- 
Knight and Joriah Brady composed the firm of Brady 
& McKnight. The early records of deeds still show 
the innnense amount of I'eal estate owned by these 
firms in St. Louis city and county, and other coun- 
ties of the State. In their day and time tliey did the 
largest mercantile business in the city of St. Louis. 
In the year 1817, Julius De Mun and Auguste P. 
Chouteau, from St. Louis, started upon a trading' 
expedition with goods to Santa Fe and Chihuahua, 
and Kobert McKnight went with them in the expedi- 
tion, trading on his own account. 

Mexico was at that time in a state of revolution. 
When De Mun, Chouteau, and McKnight reached 
Chihuahua they were seized and thrown into prison, 
and robbed of their goods and property. It was a 
long tinie before they were heard from. ]N^ews came 
at last that they were all in pi-ison at Chihuahua. 



CHIHUAHUA CAPTUKED BY GEN. DONIPHAN. 383 

When this intelUgence reached St. Louis, Maj. Pierre 
Chouteau threatened, and actually took some steps, 
to raise an army of a few thousand Osage and other . 
Indians, with whom he had power and influence. 
But he was informed by Col. Benton and other 
friends that the government of the United States 
alone had the right to make war, and to avenge 
insults and wrongs done to her citizens ; which caused 
Mr. Chouteau to abandon the undertaking. 

The gentlemen named were detained in prison for 
nearly two years. In less than thirty years after- 
wards. Gen. Doniphan, with his one thousand brave 
Missourians, who had marched further than Xeno- 
phon had done with his ten thousand Greeks, entered 
and captured the town of Chihuahua and the sur- 
rounding country, with all its inhabitants. The 
stars and stripes, proud emblem of the country's 
greatness and glory, waved over the captured town, 
and for the time being gave laws and protection to 
all who came under the dominion of the victorious 
conquerors. Even the old men of Chihuahua could 
not but notice and admire the magnanimous and 
kind treatment they received at the hands of the 
brave Gen. Doniphan and his noble army of officers 
and men, in contrast with the dastardly conduct of 
the former functionaries of the ancient town. 



V 



384 AUNT JANE CHOUTEAU. 

For the wrongs and injuries done to De Mun, 
Chouteau, and McKnight, the United States, after 
the war was closed, made the Mexican govei'nment 
pay nearly one hundred thonsand dollars. 



In the year 1849, the cholera prevailed with 
unparallelled severity, and nioi'e than live thousand 
people of the doomed city were swept off in about 
a month's time. 

When the epidemic was at its height, a poor 
woman, who had walked about ten miles, from 
somewhere in the neighborhood of Jefferson Bar- 
racks, with her child, a little girl five years* old, 
came to the city. It was about the 1st of July, 
1849, and the weather was intenselv hot. 

The woman and child had walked the whole dis- 
tance in the broiling sun, and when they reached a 
place on Sixth, between Poplar and Spruce Streets, 
the unfortunate mother, being exhausted and over- 
come with the heat, fell npon the sidewalk. There 
were few houses ai'ound, and the weeds, grass, 
and wild camomile flowers grew on the vacant lots 
up to the very sidewalk. To the west of Sixth 
Street there was quite a depression, or hollow, caused 



A GOOD SAMARITAN. 385 

* 

by the raising of Sixth and Seventh Streets, with a 
few scattering houses, which at the time, in the news- 
papers and pohce reports, went by the name of ''Hap- 
py Hollow." Living in a small house, at the time, 
m that neighborhood was a most respectable colored 
woman by the name of Jane Chouteau, a washer- 
woman. She had been a slave in the family of Col. 
Auguste Chouteau, the founder of the town, tmd was 
the daughter of '' old Aunt Catreen," au old French 
negress belonging to Col. Chouteau, who was 
known to all the old inhabitants, and died a few 3^ears 
aofo at the advanced ao-e of more than one hundred 
years. 

When the unfortunate woman fell upon the side- 
walk, and the scorching rays of the sun were beating 
down upon her, she called for help ; but her groans 
brought no one to her relief. Like the man that 
fell among tliieves in going from Jericho, first one 
and then another passed l)y, regardless of her ap- 
peals for assistance, the helpless child alone stand- 
ing by, unable to assist the agonized and suffering 
mother. 

After a great many persons had passed by the 
suffering woman, and heeded not her anguish. Aunt 
Jane from her humble habitation heard the cries, and 
went to hei* relief. She raised up the sick woman 

25 



386 AUNT JANE CHOUTEAU. 

and cai-ried her into her house, prepared a bed for 
her and ministered to her wants, and did all that 
she could, by nursing and kind attention, to soothe 
her pain and relieve her deep suffering. The child 
was duly provided for. It was evident that the poor 
woman had been seized with the cholera, and could 
not live. She was — 

In that dread moment when the frantic soul 

Raves round the wall of its clay tenement, — 

Runs to each avenue and shrieks for help, 

But shrieks in vain. How wistf uU}^ she 

Looks on all she's leaving, now no longer hers. 

A little longer, yet a little longer. O ! might 

She stay to wash away her crimes, and fit her 

For her passage. Mournful sight. Her very eyes 

Weep blood, and every groan she heaves 

Is big with horror ; but death, the foe. 

Like a stanch murderer, steady to his purpose 

Still presses on, nor misses once the track. 

Till forced at last to the tremendous verge. 

At once she sinks to everlasting ruin. 

So the woman died. When the hour of dissolu- 
tion came, and she found she was passing from time 
to eternity, she called Aunt Jane to her and told 
her she was dying, and that she committed her child 
to her keeping. She implored Aunt Jane to take 
care of her child : to protect and raise it ; and she 
made the promise. 

When the woman was dead. Aunt Jane had her 



AN ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING. 387 

decently buried, and had the child neatly dressed. 
The child was most beautiful. 'No one could pass it 
in the street without being struck and charmed with 
it. When Aunt Jane used to go out to deliver the 
clothes she had washed, she would take the little 
girl with her. The child was always neatly dressed. 
Aunt Jane had been baptized and bred in the Roman 
Catholic religion, and she took her little charge with 
her to the Catholic Church, and taught her to say 
her prayers according to the religious teachings in 
which she herself was brought up. 

Time rolled on, and the child had been several 
years with the protector in whose hands she had 
been placed by the dying mother, and had grown 
considerably, becoming more lovely and charming, 
when an Abolition lady in the neighborhood tried 
to take the child away from Aunt Jane ; and an 
attempt was made, it was said, to kidnap the child. 
Aunt Jane, whom I had known from boyhood, came 
to ask me what she should do. I told her if any- 
body undertook to take the child away from her, or 
to steal it, to let me know, and I would see her 
righted and protected. 

A few days after that, some trifling character 
who had been employed by the Abolition woman 



388 AUNT JANE CHOUTEAU. 

to get the child, undertook to play the role of an 
officer, went to Annt Jane's house, and showing a 
paper, pretended to be a constable. He said he 
had come to take the child away from her in virtue 
of a writ. Aunt Jane replied, ' ' I will not let you 
have the child unless Mr. Darby says so. I will 
go with you to Mr. Darby's office, and if he says 
I shall give you the child, I will do so." Accord- 
ingly the old lady put on her bonnet and started 
with the pi'etended constable and the child to Mr. 
Darby's office, then on Pine Street, near Third. 
When in the neighborhood of the conrt-house, very 
late in the evening, the assumed officer wanted to go 
in an other direction than the one to Mr. Darby's of- 
fice. Annt Jane told him, '' IS^o : 1 know the way to 
Mr. Darby's office; this is the way." The counter- 
feit officer then seized the child and attempted to take 
it away by force from the old lady. Annt Jane was 
a large, stout woman, of great strength. She also 
seized the child, who was screaming and struggling 
desperately, and tore the child away from the grasp 
of the vagabond official and hurled the scoundrel 
some ten feet away. Aftei* Avhich adventure she 
brought the child to my office. 

The next day, the Abolition woman who was so 



A VISIT FKOM JUSTICE HEQUEMBOUKG. 

bent on getting possession of the child went to Mr. 
Hequemboarg, at that time a justice of the peace, to 
consult and devise plans about getting possession of 
the little gu'l, and denounced me in most violent and 
bitter terms. ''Yes," said she, "there's Darby, 
member of Congress as he is ; he is a pretty fellow, 
countenancing the keeping of this white child with 
niggers ; when I could take the child and make it 
wait on me, and it would be among white folks." 
She entreated Mr. Justice Hequembourg to go to my 
office, and see and threaten me. 

Mr. Justice Hequembourg came, and was under 
some excitement. He spoke to me and said, looking 
at me straight in the eye, '' Mr. Darby, I understand 
you are countenancing the keeping of a white child 
in the possession of a negro woman, down on Sixth 
Street, and I have come to inquire about it." T told 
Mr. Hequeml)ourg the whole story of the child's be- 
ing in Aunt Jane's possession, the good part she had 
acted toward it, and the dishonorable and disreputable 
attempts that had been made to kidnap the child. 

Mr. Hequembourg' s whole manner and counte- 
nance changed as soon as he heard the true story. He 
confessed that he had come to see me at the instance 
of the woman who wanted to get the child . He begged 



390 AUNT JANE CHOUTEAU. 

pardon, and said that if he had known the true 
story he would not have been concerned in any such 
business. Mr. Hequembourg, for years after, when- 
ever we met, used to laugh and talk over the incidents 
of this visit made to me. 

I told Aunt Jane that these Abolitionists were de- 
termined she should not keep the child, and that she 
should g-o and see Archbishop Kenrick, the head of 
the Catholic Church, and tell him the story ; that 
the good archbishop would take steps for placing the 
little girl in charge of the Sisters of Charity, who 
had care of the female orphan asylum. Aunt Jane 
did so, and the v^enerable and eminent prelate gave 
her a paper, which she took to the good Sisters of 
Charity, and delivered to them the beautiful child 
which had been given to her by the dying mother, — 
that child upon whom she had bestowed so much 
attention and kindness. She parted from it with 
deep feeling, for she had become greatly attached to 
the young orphan. 

This case verified the fact that the Abolitionists, 
although the pretended friends of the colored people, 
were always more unkind, unrelenting, unfeeling, 
hard, and cruel towards these people, and less oblig- 
ing and kindly disposed towards them, than were the 



THE SOUTHERN HOTEL. 391 

Southern and Western country white people, with 
whom the colored race had been raised as slaves, 
and from whom they always received more sympathy 
and favors. 



The papers of the day give the modern history 
of the ill-fated Southern Hotel building, but there 
are reminiscences connected with the spot on which 
it was erected, and the ancient surroundings, that 
ought to be rescued from oblivion. 

In the early days of St. Louis, the intersection 
of Walnut and Fourth Streets, then known as the 
^' Rue des Granges," was a very elevated part of the 
town, commanding a view of ahnost every house and 
lot below, there being no private dwellings to the 
west. 

In 1780, on the 17th of April, during the admin- 
istration of Fernando de Leyba, then Spanish lieu- 
tenant-governor. Father Bernardo de Limpach, the 
priest of the post of St. Louis, parish of Paincourt, 
blessed the first stone of the fort on the hill back of 
the church, and it was named "Fort St. Charles," 
in honor of Charles III., king of Spain. 

This fort was commenced only a month prior to 
the attack on St. Louis by the Canadians and Indians, 



392 THK SOUTHERN HOTEL. 

in May, 1780, and which is historically known as the 
" mme.e da. grand coup^^- and conld not, of conrse, 
have l)een ntilized as a means of defence. 

It was a " niartello '' foi't, ch'cnlar in form, and 
about twenty-five or thirty feet in heig'ht, and perhaps 
twentv feet in diameter. 

Opposite to this fort, on the north side of the 
present Walnut Street, were located the barracks for 
the Spanish soldiers. These barracks consisted of a 
row of stone rooms one-story high, I'unning along 
the street fi'om the corner of Fourth, or ''Hue des 
Granges , ' ' westwardly . 

When not on duty, the Spanish soldiers cultivated 
gardens foi' their own use about their barracks, and 
were always very kind toward the inhabitants, giving 
them material aid in the spring and summer garden- 



ings. 



The old settlers always speak of these soldiers as 
beino' o'entlemen and Christians in the full sense of 
those terms. 

The government-house, the official residence of 
the lieutenant-governor, was at the south-east corner 
of what is now Walnut and Main Streets, and the 
prison in which were incarcerated the very few evil- 
doers of those days was on the east of the govern- 
ment-house. 



A MODEL JAILER. 393 

The records contain interesting details concern- 
ing this jail and the cost of constructing it. 

After the change of government from Spain to 
the United States, the old martello fort was for a 
long time used as a county jail, and James Sullivan 
was the jailer. 

Sullivan was a very large man, weighing, to say 
the least, three hundred and fifty pounds, but spry 
and active on his feet, and having a stentorian voice, 
which from the hi 11 -top could be heard all over the 
town. 

Sullivan was a hog-fanciei% and had a great many 
hogs, young and old. Early in the moi*ning they 
were liberated from their pens and permitted to roam 
at large through the town, breaking down gates and 
fences, and uprooting garden plantings and sow- 
ings. At sunset Sullivan would stand on the brow 
of the hill, and with stentorian voice call out, " Soo ! 
soo ! ' ' and his favorite poi'cines would come running* 
up to him from all quarters to get their evening 
allowance of corn. 

Poor old Sullivan ! he died from the effect of a 
slide on Walnut Street, in the winter. It happened 
thus : The street, from Fourth to Third, was then 
very steep and rough, furrow^ed with gullies and 
adorned with ridges. There was then no grading, 



394 THE SOUTHERN HOTEL. 

paving, nor gnttering, but a road in puris naturali- 
hus; covered, however, with a coating of ice and 
sleet. One of his large, fat hogs had become dis- 
abled in attempting to climb the slippery hill, and 
Sullivan, large-hearted and sympathetic, resolved to 
assist the poor animal to its usual place of nightly 
repose. Without a moment's reflection, without ice- 
spurs on his shoes, he at once started down the 
perilous descent ; but in so doing he lost his footing 
and slid down, rolled and tumbled over the ice, sleet, 
and frozen ground, until he was found helpless and 
senseless at the foot of the hill, on Third Street, and 
cared for by Francois Guinelle and Jean Beaufils, 
who then lived at that locality. 

Sullivan never recovered from this shock. At 
his death, Beriah Cleland, '' the Bard of the West," 
of revered memory, stole and published the lines 
from Byron which were afterwards applied to Lewis 
H. Dixon, M. C, the fat man from Alabama: — 

"Tis Grease, but living Grease no more." 

For a long time after the change of government, 
the St. Charles fort, the government-house, and the 
barracks, before mentioned, existed as monuments of 
former days, but were finally swept away by the 
■energy of the Anglo-Saxon immigration and the 
•demands of industry and commerce. 



EDWARD BATES. 395 

For a long time a portion of those barracks was 
occupied as a law-office by Matthias McGirk, late 
chief justice of our Supreme .Court, and by the late 
Thompson Douglass as paymaster of the United 
States army. Isaac McGrirk had his law-office on 
the west side of Fourth, about midway between 
Walnut and Market, and in that office he died. 
North of his office, on the same side of the street, was 
a Protestant burying-ground, from which, in late 
excavations for building purposes, skeletons were ex- 
humed, and erroneously supposed to be the remains 
of murdered persons. i 



Edward Bates, who died in March, 1869, was 
one of the most distinguished men with which the 
State of Missouri has ever been honored. He was 
perhaps more universally beloved than any man that 
ever lived in the State. His gentle manners and 
pleasing address, and happy, friendly greeting, made 
him a favorite with everybody ; and no man that ever 
hved in the State had a more unbounded and wide- 
spread personal popularity. 

He was born at Belmont, Goochland County, 
Virginia, on the fourth day of September, 1793. 



396 EDWAKD BATES. 

He lost his father when he was very young. He 
was educated at home, save for a short time, when 
he attended Charlotte Hall Academy, and after- 
wards his education was finished by an accomplished 
private teacher. 

His family were Quakers; but his father, fore- 
going so much of the teachings of that society, 
determined to fight for his country, and joined with 
the Americans in the war of the Revolution. 

Mr. Bates, when young, was offered a midshipman- 
ship in the navy of the United States, which he de- 
clined. And afterwards, in the year 1813, he enlisted 
as a common soldier and went forth in defence of 
his country, and for nearly a year was stationed with 
the troops at N^orfolk, in Virginia. Directly after 
he had been honorably discharged, he came to St. 
Louis, whither his brother, Frederick Bates, at that 
time United States recorder of land-titles for Upper 
Louisiana, had come some years before him. He 
reached this city in the early part of 1814, without a 
profession and with but small means. He studied law 
down on Third Street, near Myrtle, in the office of 
Col. Rufus Easton, one of the most accomplished and 
finished lawyers and finest scholars in the Western 
country. Mr. Bates was admitted to the bar in 
1816, and very soon rose to public distinction. In 



ELECTED TO CONGRESS. 397 

the year 1818 he was appomted district attorney of 
the Territory, being commissioned by WilUam Clark 
(of Lewis and Clark's expedition), then governor of 
the Territory of Missonri. In the year 1820 he 
was elected, from the comity of St. Louis, a dele- 
gate to the convention called for the foi-mation of 
the State Constitution for Missouri. 

When the State government was organized under 
the new Constitution, Mr. Bates was appointed attor- 
ney-general of the State, the duties of which office 
he discharged with his usual distinguished ability for 
about two or three years, when he resigned the posi- 
tion and was elected a membei- of the Legislature of 
Missouri, the seat of government being then located 
at St. Chai'les. In the year 1824, Mr. Bates was 
appointed and commissioned by President Monroe, 
United States district attorney for the District of 
Missouri, which office he filled to the great satisfac- 
tion of the government until the year 1826, when he 
became a candidate for Congress, and was elected 
over his distinguished and popular opponent, John 
Scott, of Ste. Genevieve, who had been a represent- 
ative in Congress from Missouri, under Territorial 
and State governments, for a period of twelve years. 

Mr. Bates served one term in Congress, and was 
a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by the 



398 EDWARD BATES. 

Hon. Spencer Pettis by an overwhelming majority, 
such was the power of party influence in Jackson's 
time. After coming back from Congress, he spent 
a few years in the practice of the law in St. Louis, 
and then removed to the county of St. Charles, and 
located on a farm in the Dardenne Prairie. He still 
continued the practice of the law in five or six coun- 
ties lying between the Missouri and Mississippi 
Rivers. Being one of the best lawyers in the State, 
he soon had a most extensive and profitable practice 
in that part of the country ; but he used to say to me 
that it took all the money that lawyer Bates could 
make to support farmer Bates. He was elected to 
the State Senate from the county of St. Charles. 
He returned to the city of St. Louis and resumed the 
practice of the law in 1842, in which he was engaged 
till the year 1853, when he was elected judge of the 
St. Louis Land Court by the popular vote of the 
people, the duties of which he discharged with great 
ability and to the entire satisfaction of the whole 
community. He was appointed secretary of war by 
President Fillmore, and his nomination was unani- 
mously confirmed by the Senate ; but he declined the 
honorable and distinguished position, to the utter 
astonishment of Eastei-n and Westei-n politicians. 
Mr. Bates won great distinction by presiding at a 



HIS REMARKABLE ELOQUENCE. 399 

meeting held at Chicago in hehalf of commercial 
and internal improvement. The speech that he 
made on that occasion gave him more fame and 
greater distinction than he had ever gained before. 
Men of genius, of distinction, and cultivated talents 
were there, and they were astonished to hear a man 
of such splendid eloquence and elegant elocution 
and force of delivery among Western delegates. He 
moved the crowd as if with electricity ; and, it is said, 
so thrilling was his address and so powerful was the in- 
tellectual charm that the reporters themselves, paus- 
ing for a moment to get the run of his address, were 
so captivated that they forgot to take down his words, 
and the speech that added so much to his fame and 
glory throughout the country was never reported. 

In the year 1856 he went to the convention held 
in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the presi- 
dency in opposition to James Buchanan, who had 
been nominated and was the candidate of the Demo- 
cratic party that year. From that time Mr. Bates 
followed his professional pursuits, and in a measure 
retired from politics ; but he never was so far with- 
drawn as to cease to write occasional essays and 
make occasional speeches on public affairs, and let 
the weight of his good name be found and felt on 
the side of good government. 



400 EDWARD BATES. 

I have often stood by Mr. Bates and seen him 
haranofue and control the nuihitude, and win the 
applanse and plaudits of the crowd even when the 
majority were agamst him. In all his relations in 
life, by his genial disposition, by his winnmg ac- 
cents, by his great kindness of heart and captivat- 
ino' 2'entleness of manner, did he so win and turn 
all hearts as to carry his measures. Although al- 
ways in a popular minority during the days of the 
unbonnded enthusiasm of Jacksonism, he did more to 
shape and control public affairs than any other man 
in Missouri, being the acknowledged head and leader 
of the Whig party in the State. 

In the year 1819 I saw Mr. Bates for the first 
time, when he was on a visit to his brother Fred- 
erick, afterwards governor of Missouri. Frederick 
lived in Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, 
and had my father for a neighbor. I was a boy, 
playing marbles in the road as Mr. Bates rode by. 
Time can never erase from my memory the deep 
and lasting impression he made upon me. His 
person was small ; he was dressed in the habiliments 
characteristic of the legal profession of that day, — 
ruffles, blue broadcloth coat and gilt buttons, — 
some lingering marks of the vestments of Revolution- 
ary times. And then, when I came into his presence 



HIS coolnp:ss and coukagk. 401 

at the house, his suavity of manner and smooth, 
boyish face (as it was then) and bright black eyes 
made a telhng impression on my fancy. From the 
time that I came to the bar, in the year 1827, it 
was my good fortune to be on most intimate terms 
with Mr. Bates, personally, politically, and socially. 
He had honored me with his confidence and friendship, 
and I had rejoiced with him in his ti'iumphs and pros- 
perity, and had sympathized with him in his disap- 
pointments and defeats. My sympathy he always 
acknowledged, for he knew how deeply and devotedly 
I was attached to him. I was well acquainted with, 
and knew from my boyhood, his mother, his brother, 
and sister. 

Mr. Bates was a modest and unpretending man ; 
but on one occasion his personal popularity was so 
great that it provoked the bitterest animosities among 
his political enemies and opponents, and he was 
threatened with personal violence in a political can- 
vass at Florissant. But he had friends with him. Col . 
Thornton Grimsley, Archibald McDonald, andothei's 
stood by him, and pledged their lives to protect him. 
In that threatening and exciting hour Mr. Bates 
never faltered or quailed in the least, but with a cool 
and determined courage he turned with a smile, when 
half a dozen pistols were being drawn and cocked, 

26 



402 EDWARD BATES. 

and said to Archibald McDonald, his old friend^ 
''Arch, there are so many fellows here I shall have 
to fight some of them by proxy." To which Mc- 
Donald replied, " Just say the word, Mr. Bates, and 
I will thrash 'em like a dog." 

The offensive party, seeing Mr. Bates's firm and 
determined manner, and that he was surrounded by 
friends, slunk out of sight. According to the age 
and spirit of the times in which Mr. Bates lived, it 
was difficult for any man to live in St. Louis and 
maintain his standing without acknowledging and 
often practically illustrating the code of honor ; but 
Mr. Bates never fought a duel. Only once did he 
partake of the prevailing spirit so far as to take a 
step towards engaging in mortal combat. When he 
was in Congress, Mr. McDuffie, of South Carolina, 
then a prominent and distinguished member of the 
House of Kepresentatives, did something which Mr. 
Bates construed into an insult, and he prouiptly took 
the preliminary and usual course to call Mr. McDuffie 
to account, by sending him a note and demanding 
an explanation. Mr. Pleasants, of Virginia, acting 
as the friend of Mr. Bates, was the bearer of the 
warlike communication. Mr. McDuffie then backed 
down completely. A full account of this transaction 
was published in ]S/'lles''s Register at the time. 



AS A CABINET MINISTER. 403 

Edward Bates was no ordinary man. It was my 
good fortune to have been associated with him fi^e- 
quently in heavy lawsuits, and many a time it was 
my pride and heartfelt satisfaction to rely on Mr. 
Bates's telling power and irresistible influence before 
a jury ; and he hardly ever failed to come off triumph- 
ant. And in life and death cases, where the better 
feelings of humanity are called into play, I have seen 
Mr. Bates most irresistible in acquitting when almost 
in the very jaws of death. 

Edward Bates was a member of the cabinet of 
Abraham Lincoln, acting as attorney-general during 
the first four years of his administration, after which 
he resigned his position and returned to private life, 
poorer than w^hen he entered the public service as a 
cabinet minister ; whilst nearlv all the rest who at 
that time entered the public service fattened at the 
public crib, and when they withdrew from the gov- 
ernmental employment, were rich. 

Mr. Bates was confined to his room by ill health 
nearly all the time after his return from Washington 
to Missouri, a period of several years. 

Although prostrated by disease, his mind was as 
clear and his intellect as bright as ever. His recol- 
lection was vivid and sprightly ; and during that long 



404 EDWARD BATES. 

period he was nursed with the most devoted and 
affectionate care by liis amiable wife. 

Edward Bates now " sleeps that sleep that knows 
no waking," in the beautifnl, rich Florissant Valley — 
that tine valley of flowers, as its name imports, so 
sweet, so fragrant, and so becoming the excellence 
and pnrity of his character — beside his mother and 
his sister. It has been said, '' The evil that men do 
lives after them ; the good is often interred with their 
bones." We can reverse the saying, so far as Mr. 
Bates is concerned. The evil, if any, which he may 
have committed will be interred with his bones, and 
the good will Hve after him forever. His good 
name — that bright, unspotted example of a well- 
spent, noble, and upright life — will be preserved 
alike to consecrate his memory and to stimulate 
others to worthy deeds. When the sorrowing 
widow leads her son to the tomb of Edward Bates, 
and tells him of the gi-eatness and goodness of him 
who sleeps below, and informs her son that his father, 
too, was the son of a widow ; and relates the story of 
his life, the positions he filled, the distinction he had 
won, the eminent stations he had occupied, — this 
loving mother will seek to impress the noble teach- 
ings and example of Edwai'd Bates, who had acquired 
honor, greatness, glory, and distinction from and 



ISABELLE De MUN. 405 

with the approbation of the people, and discharged 
the duties incumbent upon him to the entire satisfac- 
tion of his countrymen. In a hundred years or so, 
when this gi*eat city expands, and the human habita- 
tions of living men shall gather around the grave 
where his remains are deposited, thei'e will still be 
found students and admirers of talent and genius to 
visit his tomb ; for his memory and chai'acter will 
be held in veneration foi* centuries to come. 



Mrs. Isabelle De Mun died in 8t. Louis on the 
13th of July, 1878, at the residence of her son-in-law, 
Charles Bland Smith, aged eighty-one years eight 
months and twenty-eight days, having been boi*n in 
St. Louis on the fifteenth day of October, 1796, at 
the old Gratiot mansion, then situated on the north- 
west corner of Chestnut and Main Streets. Mrs. De 
Mun was a descendant of one of the most ancient and 
distinguished families among the early settlei's of St. 
Louis. 

Mrs. De Mun's father was Charles Gratiot, one 
of the most intelligent, eminent, and distinguished 
citizens of St. Louis. He was born, as stated in his 
marriage contract, of record in St. Louis, in Lau- 
sanne, in the Canton of Yaud, in Switzerland. His 



406 IS A BELLE Dk MUN. 

family were French Huguenots, and sought refuge 
in Switzerland, perhaps from religious persecution 
in their native land. After the revocation of the 
Edict of Kantes he came to America, first to Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, about the commencement of the 
Revolutionary war. He came to St. Louis about the 
beginning of the year 1777, and commenced business 
as a merchant. On the 25th of June, 1781, Charles 
Gratiot married Victoire Chouteau, sister of Col. 
Au«*uste Chouteau. 

Of this marriage nine children were born : four 
sons, viz., Charles, Henry, John B., and Paul M. 
Gratiot ; and five daughters, to wit, Julie, who 
married Jolm P. Cabanne ; Victoire, who married 
Sylvester Labadie ; Isabelle, wdio married Jules de 
Mun ; Emilie, who married Pierre Chouteau, Jr., 
and a daughter who married a Mr. Maclot. 

Paul M. (xratiot filled the position of judge of 
the St. Louis County Court for many years, with 
ofreat credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction 
of the public. John 13. Gratiot died a few years 
ago, while he was a member of the Legislature of 
Missouri from Washington County. Of Charles 
and Henry an account has already been given. 
They were all gentlemen of great respectability, 
character, and standing. 

Miss Isabelle Gratiot, the subject of this notice, 



HER FAMILY. 407 

was married to Jules De Mini, in St. Louis, in the 
year 1811, in the fifteenth year of her age. She was 
considered, in her day and time, as the most heautiful 
woman in St. Louis. Charles Gratiot had educated 
his daughters well, and no lady horn and educated 
withiu the precincts of court circles was ever more 
blessed with the rich gifts of pleasing manners and 
colloquial conversational powers than was Mrs. De 
Mun. 

Of this marriage with Mr. De Mun, six children 
were born, to wit, Isabelle, who married Edward 
Walsh, in St. Louis, both of whom are now dead ; 
Julie, who married Antoine Leon Chenie, and who 
survives her husband ; Louisa, wife of Robert A. 
Barnes ; Emilie, wife of Charles Bland Smith, and 
two other children who died when they were infants. 
Isabelle De Mun, just deceased, then a little over 
seven years of age, was the last living mortal who 
had witnessed the scene of the first planting of the 
American flag, an account of which has already been 
given. 

The town of St. Louis was incorporated in the 
year 1807, when a Board of Trustees was first ap- 
pointed, of which Col. Auguste Chouteau was the 
first president, for the year 1810 ; after which Charles 
Gratiot was president for the years 1811, 1812, and 



408 ISABELLE Dk MUN. 

1813, as the leading spirit and head man of the town. 
When Thomas H. Benton first came to St. Louis, in 
the year 1815, he was welcomed to the town and 
received hy Charles Gratiot as a g'uest in his house. 

Charles Gratiot, the father of Mrs. De Mun, died 
in St. Louis in the year 1817, possessed of great 
wealth, honored, heloved, and respected by all who 
knew him. 

Julius l)e Mun, the husband of Isabelle De Mun, 
had a life filled with extraordinary incidents. He 
belonged to a family of nobles in France. The French 
troubles coming on, when the nobility were in great 
danger, his father took his family to San Domingo, 
where Julius De Mun was born. Later, his father 
went back to Paris to educate his children. Shortly 
afterwards the father was compelled to flee to Eng- 
land to save his head from the guillotine, leaving his 
two children, Auguste De Mun and Julius De Mun, in 
care of a faithful old servant, who concealed them in 
a cellar. This faithful servant took the two children 
and dressed them in miserable habiliments, as if they 
were the children of very poor people, and started 
with them to the coast of France, to take them to 
their father in England. 

As they were passing the scene of blood and death 
near the guillotine, where heads were being cut off^ 



HONORED BY THE KING OF P^EANCE. 409 

Kobespierre was being- executed. The little boy 
Julius began to cry, when his oldest brother began to 
shake him and tell him to be quiet, so as not to 
attract attention. 

Upon the restoration of the Bourbon family, 
royal letters were forwarded by Louis XVIII. to 
Julius De Mun, through the Fi-ench ambassador, in- 
viting the retm-n of himself and family to his native 
land ; and accompanying these letters was the deco- 
ration of the order of the Fleur de Lis of France, 
the highest honor in the gift of the nation. 

The present distinguished orator, the Count De 
Mun, now prominent in the Coi'ps Legislatif of Paris, 
is the nephew of the late Julius De Mun. 

The two brothers, Auguste and Jules, came to 
this country at an early day. Auguste settled in Ste^ 
Genevieve, where he was killed in a duel about the 
year 1811, by Mac Arthur, a brother-in-law of Dr. 
Lewis F. Linn, so long a senator in Congress from 
the State of Missouri. 

In the year 1818, as already described, Auguste 
P. Chouteau, Julius De Mun, and Pierre Chouteau, 
Jr., formed a partnership to trade with Santa Fe and 
Chihuahua ; and Auguste P. Chouteau and Jules De 
Mun went out in company with John McKnight, ^ 



410 ISABELLE De MUN. 

of the old firm of McKnight & Brady, and a man 
by the name of Beard. When the party arrived 
at Cliihualiua, the Mexicans had revolted against 
Spain and the country was in a state of revolution. 
Chouteau and De Mun and the whole party were 
robbed of their goods and thrown into prison ; and 
afterwards, it was said, they were put into the silver- 
mines to work as slaves, where they were detained 
for nearly two years. 

Julius De Mun and his associates were released 
after nearly two years' imprisonment, through the in- 
terference of Henry Clay and other prominent gen- 
tlemen, under Monroe's administration, with the aid 
and assistance of the French minister then resident 
at Washington. 

After the return of Julius De Mun to St. Louis, 
he was for a short time in business with John Mul- 
lanphy, Esq. ; after which he took his family and 
embarked for the island of Cuba, where he estab- 
lished a sugar and coffee plantation, and where he 
continued to reside till about the year 1829 or 1830, 
when he returned to St. Louis. Here he continued 
to reside till the time of his death, which occurred 
on the fifteenth day of August, 1843. 

Directly after the return of Julius De Mun from 



A NOBLE WIFE. 411 

Cuba, he was appointed secretary and translator to 
the board of commissioners for adjusting the titles 
to the Fi'ench and Spanish grants to land lying in 
Missouri, under the act of Congress of 1832 or 
1833, the duties of which position he discharged with 
most distinguished and marked ability. Mr. De Mun 
was afterwards appointed United States register of 
the land-office at St. Louis ; and at the time of his 
death held the office of clerk of the recorder of deeds 
for St. Louis County, a position to which he had 
been elected by the popular vote. Mr. De Mun was 
a most accomplished scholar, of fine manners, and 
a finished gentleman in every sense of the word — 
alike by nature, habit, and education. 

Mrs. De Mun was a noble woman, worthy of her 
distinguished husband. It was in the sa'd, gloomy 
hours of adverse fortune in Cuba, when the dark 
frowns of adversity fell upon her husband, that she 
so encouragingly sustained him by her affection and 
sympathy. 

"To raise the virtues, animate the bUss, 
And sweeten all the toils of human life : 
This, this be female dignity and praise." 

And to this extent the subject of this memoir was 
entitled in an uncommon degree by her beauty of 



412 JAMES G. SOULARD. 

person, her mental graces, her accomplished manners, 
and all those refined and refining virtues characteristic 
of the true Christian lady. 



James G. Soulard, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in St. Louis, July 15, 1798, and was conse- 
quently a little upwards of eighty years of age at 
the time of his death, which occurred at the family 
residence, in Galena, Illinois, September 17, 1878. 
His father was a native of France, and settled at St. 
Louis in 1793, and was for many years surveyor- 
general of the province of Upper Louisiana, — first 
under the Spanish government and afterwards under 
the American government. In 1820 the son married 
Miss Eliza Hunt (who now survives him), of Boston, 
daughter of Col. Thomas Hunt, who achieved dis- 
tinction in the Revolutionary war. 

Mr. Soulard resided in the city of St. Louis until 
he was twenty-three years of age, when, possessing 
that intrepidity of character which was requisite for 
so perilous an undertaking, he made his way to Fort 
Snelling, at that time almost without the pale of 
Western civilization, and was engaged as a sutler 
during the years 1821 and 1822, having been ap- 



SETTLES IN GALENA. 413 

pointed to that position by his brother-in-law, Col. 
Snelling, after whom Fort Snelhng was named. His 
trip to the fort was full of adventure, incidents of 
which are here related. He started out with his family 
for his new field of labor on October 21, 1821, with a 
fleet of keel-boats, and succeeded in reaching his 
destination about the 20th of February, after under- 
going many fatigues and great suffering, ])esides 
being constantly in danger of being murdered b}^ the 
Indians, who at that time swarmed throughout the 
country. In the summer of 1822, Mr. Soulard 
resigned his position and returned with his family to 
St. Louis, where they remained the five succeeding 
years. 

On his way to Fort Snelling, Mr. Soulard stopped 
at Galena, at that tune a trading-post for the mining 
region, and revisited the place again in 1822 and in 
1823. Regarding it as a good point for a young 
man to start out in life, he gave up his occupation 
as surveyor under Rene Paul (a hero of Trafalgar), 
and removed thither, arriving in Galena in 1827. 
The pioneer settlement of the ]N^orth-West had at 
that time considerabh^ enlarged its boundaries, and 
Mr. Soulard immediately embarked in the smelting, 
mercantile, and commission business, which he con- 
tinued for some years, when he withdrew from the 



414 JAMES G. SOULARD. 

active pursuits of commercial life and engaged in 
farming and raising of fruits, an occupation much 
more congenial to his tastes. In 1832 he was ap- 
pointed surveyoi* and postmaster, which positions he 
held until his resignation, on account of ill-health, 
after which he turned his attention to agriculture and 
real-estate speculations. In 1860 he became engaged 
in the cultivation of the grape, and started a few 
years ago the well-known Soulard vineyard, in West 
Galena, which, under his administration, was the most 
prolific and the finest of any in that section. In 1870 
he gave up business altogether, and lived in retire- 
ment, enjoying, with his noble helpmeet, the fruits 
of a well-spent life. 

He possessed many noble traits of character, 
which distinguished him in a marked degree from 
the generality of people. He was a most polished 
gentleman, courteous in the extreme to all classes 
and all ages, entirely free from dissimulation, and at 
all times scrupulously honest and upright in his 
dealings with his fellow-men. In disposition he was 
as kind and gentle as a sweet-tempered child, yet he 
could resent an insult or defend his rights with a 
dignity and courage characteristic of the nation 
from which he descended. His intellect was of the 
brightest order, and his language that of a polished 



ROBERT A. BARNES. 415 

student of literature and rhetoric. As a writer he 
possessed marked abihty, and many of the best 
articles on pomology, published in the leading agri- 
cultural papers of the United States, were from his 
pen. Several years ago he was commissioned by 
Congress to prepare a treatise on grape culture in 
this country, which was afterwards incorporated in 
the government reports. He was one of the best 
entomologists in the State, and his opinions were 
frequently referred to and greatly valued by writers 
on that subject. He had an extraordinary memory, 
which only failed him slightly as his infirmities 
increased, and would relate, with remarkable accuracy 
as to dates and other facts, incidents connected with 
the history of the ]N^orth-West. He was perfectly at 
home on all scientific subjects, having been a close 
student of philosophy all his life. 

Mr. Soulard was the brother of Messrs. Henry 
G. Soulard and Benjamin Soulard, of St. Louis. 



Robert A. Barnes is one of the oldest as well as 
one of the most successful merchants and business 
men that has ever resided in the city. For about 
fifty years he has stood in the front rank in the 



416 ROBEKT A. BARNES. 

laying of the foundations and the building up of our 
commerce. Within that time he has seen the city in- 
crease from a few thousand inhabitants to nearly half 
II million of souls. 

He was born in the city of Washington, I^^ovem- 
ber 29, 1808. He is of Enghsh origin. The first 
of his paternal ancestors, who emigrated from the 
county of IS^orfolk, England, came to the colony of 
Maryland in the year 1(362, and settled in Charles 
County in that time-honored and ancient colony. 

His father was born in Charles County, Maryland, 
and married Mary Evans, who was born in Prince 
George County, Maryland. After being sent to school, 
Robert Avent at the early age of thirteen to his uncle, 
Richard Barnes, in Louisville, Kentucky, to learn the 
dry-goods business. Here he continued to reside till 
the year 1830, when he came to St. Louis, and en- 
gaged as a clerk with Messrs. Sproule & Buchanan, 
at that time merchants in St. Louis, on the seventeenth 
day of May, 1830, and has continued to reside here 
ever since. 

As a clerk he was most efficient and reliable, win- 
ning from his employers the most unbounded confi- 
dence and respect, — a confidence that never was 
abused, and which resulted in a life-long attachment 
on both sides. 



RETIRES FROM BUSINESS. 417 

Afterwards Mr. Barnes became a clerk for the 
house of Variaii & Reel, and lived with them till the 
31st of December, 1836, when the firm was dissolved, 
Mr. Varian going to ]S^ew Orleans. Subsequently, 
Mr. Barnes was taken into partnershi]) by John Wl 
Reel, in January, 1837, under the firm-name of Reel, 
Barnes & Co. The house was prosperous, and they 
did an extensive business. The firm was dissolved 
by the death of John W. Reel, which occurred on the 
(5th of January, 1838. 

Mr. Barnes settled up the affairs of the concern 
and quit business as a wholesale dealer in groceries, 
and retired until the 1st of January, 1839, when he 
formed another partnership with Capt. John C. Swon, 
the po])ular and well-known steamboat commander 
on the Mississippi River, and conunenced the same 
branch of business, under the name of Barnes & 
Swon. This firm continued in business until the 7th 
of August, 1841, when it was dissolved amicably and 
by mutual consent; Capt. John C. Swon selling 
out his interest to Robert A. Barnes, who continued 
the business alone until January, 1861, when he 
ceased to do business as a merchant. 

As early as the year 1840, Mr. Barnes was elected 
a director in the Bank of the State of Missouri, the 
only bank then in the city of St. Louis. He contin- 

27 



418 ROBERT A. BARNES. 

lied a director in this institution continuously from 
that time until the spring- of the year 1859, when he 
was made president, and as such conducted its affairs 
with most distinguished and signal ability as long as 
it continued in existence. On the first day of No- 
vember, 1866, it ceased to exist as a State bank, and 
became a national bank, under the general banking- 
law of the United States. Since that time Mr. 
Barnes has been engaged in no business, save that of 
attending to his private affairs and to the large estate 
acquired by honest hidustry and generous enterprise. 

Robert A. Barnes was married on the twenty- 
eighth day of January, 1845, to Miss Louisa De Mun, 
in St. Louis. His wife still lives, but none of his chil- 
dren now survive. 

Mr. Barnes has never sought or lield office, except 
as director in moneyed corporations and institutions 
in which he was interested. 

Mr. Barnes is a man of mild and unobtrusive 
manners, never seeking or desiring notoriety, but 
quietly pursuing the even tenor of his course through 
life. Few men in the city of St. Louis have fought 
the battle of life with more noble bearing, more hon- 
orable generosity, and more manly impulses, than has 
Robert A. Barnes. 

Such is the man of whom we wi'ite ; such is the 



SAMUEL GATY. 419 

man whose proud history we record as a worthy 
representative of the city of St. Louis, and whose 
career is an example worthy of imitation. 

Perhaps, among others, the great causes of Mr. 
Barnes's success in hfe were his sound judgment, 
his decision of character, and his firmness of purpose. 
As a merchant; he is one to whoia the city of St. 
Louis can point with pride. 



Samuel Gaty was born in Jefferson County, 
Kentucky, on the tenth day of August, 1811. His 
ancestors were of German origin, and settled at an 
early day of the country's history in Pennsylvania, 
and were the founders of the town of Gettysburg. 

His grandfather married into the Markel family, 
and John Getty, the father of the subject of the 
present sketch, married Eva Henderliter, and com- 
menced life in the then young State of Kentucky. 
The mother of Samuel Gaty died when he was three 
years old, and five years after, his father died, 
leaving him alone in the world to be cared for by 
strangers. 

The family name was " Getty." So his father 
spelled it; but when Samuel, an orphan of tender 



420 SAMUEL GATY. 

years, was sent to school, his teacher wrote it ""Gaty," 
so callecl the young boy, and so made him write it, 
as his proper name, ^or was he made acquainted 
with this fact until after he had grown to manhood, 
and had been engaged in business for some years, 
and permanently established in 8t. Louis in exten- 
sive operations. This six months' .education from 
the not very learned teacher who changed the name 
of the boy, was all the schooling he ever received. 

Before his father's death, he was apprenticed to 
a man who seemed to have cared but little for his 
future welfare, and to have afforded his apprentice 
boy no means of instruction or improvement. In 
that early day there were no public schools in Ken- 
tucky, and unless })arents and guardians sent their 
children to the costly and well-paid private schools, 
they were obliged to go without education. 

]N^ow and then Samuel," being of an active mind, 
would pick up l^its of information from his compan- 
ions on Saturdays ; and whenever he had the privilege 
of .attending service on the Sabbath, he remembered 
some things in the lessons of instruction thus taught ; 
but his boyhood was at this time unhappy and discon- 
tented. With no fond hand of affection to direct 
his steps and guide him in the correct path of life ; 
without one single, solitary friend to advise and 



BECOMES AN APPRENTICE. 421 

consult with, he determmed to run away from a 
place where he had no sympathy, kindness, or affec- 
tion shown him. 

So, one day our young and parentless hoy, when 
all the white members of the family had gone on a 
visit, determined to start forth in the world upon his 
own resources, .solitary and alone. He travelled a 
few miles to a neighbor's house and got a small 
shot-gun which his father had left him, his only 
legacy ; then, taking another i-oad, he went forth. 
" The world was all before him where to choose his 
place of rest, and Providence his guide." His steps 
were directed towards Louisville. It was a bold 
undertaking for a lad under eleven years of age; 
but he had a stout heart and healthy body to sustain 
him, and his courage never failed him. 

When our lad arrived at Louisville, he volun- 
tarily apprenticed himself to Messrs. Prentice & 
Beckwell, who carried on the machinery and foundry 
business. Three years later Mr. Prentice died, and 
was succeeded in business by Mr. William Keffer, to 
whom young Gaty apprenticed himself for an addi- 
tional term of two years. The amount stipulated to 
be paid to him was three dollars and a half per week 
and one hundred and fifty dollars at the end of his 
apprenticeship. During the term of two years he 



422 SAMUEL GATY. 

was enabled to earn one hundi*ed dollars additional 



? 



by niaMng and doing special kinds of work after 
the regnlar day's work was over. With the savings 
thns earned he started for ISTew Albany, Indiana, 
where he worked a few months for John Morton. 

In the month of October, 1828, some yonng men 
in the foundry were talking with each other about 
the various plans for the future, when the town of 
St. Loins was mentioned as a good place for busi- 
ness. kSamuel Gaty, John Morton, Jr., and a young 
man named Richards concluded to go to St. Louis 
and see Avhat sort of a place it was, and reached 
their place of destination about the last of the month 
of October, where the three young adventurers 
started a shop, near the south-east corner of Second 
and Cheriy Streets. At the end of three months 
they sold out their establishment to Martin Thomas. 
Shortly after this a Mr. Peter McQueen, from 'New 
York, k^ased the establishment. Young Gaty and 
Morton were out of employment, and were anxious 
to get work with McQueen. Mr. Jewell, a friend 
of the two young men, called upon McQueen and 
told him that these two young men, very excellent 
mechanics, wanted to get employment with him. To 
which Mr. McQueeii i-eplied that he did not think he 
could employ them, as he wanted to bring all his 



SUCCEEDS IN A DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING. 423 

men, who were skilled laborers, from the East. This 
was quite a blow to the young men's prospects, but 
they resolved to wait the turn of events. 

In the meantime the steamboat Jubilee had broken 
a shaft, and the captain went to McQueen's foundry 
to get a new one cast. The proprietor said he could 
make the patterns and mould one, but his men could 
not melt the iron in an air-fui"nace, having been ac- 
customed to the cupola. Mr. Gaty's friend, Mr. 
JNTewell, overheard the conversation, and told Mc- 
Queen that Samuel Gaty could melt the iron for 
him. McQueen then went to Gaty, and asked him 
if he could melt the iron, and he repUed that he 
could. " What will you charge? " asked the former. 
*' One-half the whole price," said Gaty. McQueen 
said that was too much. ''All right," said Gaty; 
'' get your skilled workmen from the East to do it." 

McQueen finally concluded to pay the price asked 
by Gaty ; and he melted the iron in a few hours, 
and turned out a very fine casting. But after it had 
been cast, there was not a geared lathe or automaton 
in the city to finish it. While McQueen and the 
captain of the Jubilee were discussing the question 
whether or not thev should send the shaft to Louis- 
ville to have it turned, Mr. N^evvell told them that 



424: SAMUEL GATY. 

Gaty could do that job also. Again McQueen came 
to Gaty, and asked if he could do the work. He 
said that he could. ''But how?" said McQueen. 
" That is my business," said Gaty, ''but I can do 
it." He was employed to do the work, and did it 
promptly and well, at a liberal price. 

At'tei" this exhibition of his skill and successful 
practical utility and efficiency, McQueen was quite 
anxious to employ the young' mechanic ; but he 
refused. He worked for Mr. IN^ewell, howevei*, for 
a short time in his blacksmith shop, at moderate 
wages, till the latter part of the year 1829, when 
he I'cturned to Louisville. Such were the struggles 
of poverty and genius in the early efforts in fight- 
ing the battles of life ; self-reliance, indomitable 
will, and perseverance always insuring success. 

After working as a journeyman in Louisville for 
awhile, ^N^ewell wrote to him to come to St. Louis 
again, as McQueen had been nnsuccessful in busi- 
ness, and that there was a fine opening for a foundry ; 
and Mr. Gaty returned. In the spring he made 
the fire-brick for the furnace, and made the first 
heat by the 4:th of July, 1831. 

The castings were for Capt. John C. Swon, of 
the steamer CarroUton, and were of an excellent 



HE PURCHASES THE ENTIRE ESTABLISHMENT. 425 

quality. The furnace worked well, and was used 
afterwards for more than twenty years. It may not 
be out of place to state that Samuel Gaty, upon 
his first visit here, made the first castings that were 
ever made in St. Louis, and built the first engine 
that ever had been constructed west of the Missis- 
sippi River. 

In this brief sketch we cannot go into details^ 
Suffice it to say that Samuel Gaty was astonished 
to find that the foundry in which he had been work- 
ing had been transferred by Jewell to Scott & Rule^ 
a mercantile firm, which failed about that time ; and 
they in turn had transferred the establishment ta 
James Woods, of Pittsburg. Mr. Gaty bought the 
foundry, machine-shop, and the Avhole establishment 
on credit, and Avent to w^ork with an energy and 
industry worthy of all commendation. 

Mr. Daniel D. Page and Mr. George K. McGun- 
nagle, seeing that he was doing a fine and prosperous 
business, came to his aid and gave him valuable 
financial assistance. Mr. Gaty, even to this day^ 
mentions with the deepest gratitude these good friends 
of his early years ; and to his honor be it said, he has- 
never been known to forget a friend. 

In the course of time Mr. Felix Coonce became 



426 SAMUEL GATY. 

a partner, the firm-name being Gaty & Coonce. 
Subsequently the name of the firm was changed, 
and various other partners admitted. But, as we are 
deaUng with Mr. Gaty alone, it is deemed unneces- 
sary to speak further of these various changes. 
As early as the year 1840 the business assumed 
large proportions, and became most lucrative and 
profitable. The foundry was in fact one of the most 
-extensive establishments of the kind in the whole 
valley of the Mississippi. It was bounded by Main 
and Second Streets on the east and west, and on 
the north and south by Cherry and Morgan Streets, 
and built up solid with large stone-front buildings. 
Mr. Gaty retired from the manufacturing business 
some eighteen or twenty years ago, with a large 
and ample fortune. 

Mr. Gaty was frecpiently a member of the Board 
of Aldermen and of the City Council of the city of 
St. Louis, always active and efficient in directing the 
affairs of the city government. He was married in 
the year 1843, to EHza J. Burbridge, and has eight 
ohildren living born of the marriage, fiv^e others 
having died. 

The story of Mr. Gaty-s life is worth being told, 
as a successful career and a worthy incentive to 



MKS. ISABELLA WALSH. 427 

young men struggling with indigence and poverty, 
and as an example of how honesty, honor, and in- 
dustry will triumphantly and proudly win the battle 
of life. 



The death of Mrs. Isabella Walsh, which oc- 
curred on Friday, May 25, 1877, at her house on 
Pine street, has spread gloom and sorrow over a 
very wide circle of St. Louis society. She died 
from the effects of paralysis, in her sixty-fifth year. 
Mrs. Walsh was a native of this city, lived the most 
of her life here, was sprung from some of our oldest 
families, and was beloved as well as esteemed by all 
who knew her. 

Mrs. Walsh was the daughter of Julius De Mun 
and Isabella Gratiot. JE71 2^(issant^ we will say that 
no class of immigrants to these shores have been 
more distinguished for adventure, courage, and en- 
terprise than the original French settlers of the 
Louisiana territory. Long before the Anglo-Saxon 
penetrated the Western wilderness, the Frenchman 
explored the whole vast region lying between the 
lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, and between the 
Ohio and Mississippi on the one hand and the 
Rocky Mountains on the other. He not only ex- 



428 MRS. ISABELLA WALSH. 

plored it, but set his mark on it. He selected the 
names of his favorite saints, and these names were 
not written in water. Religion was often the impel- 
ling motive which sent him into lonely lands and 
savage wilds ; and things done in obedience to 
religions promptings long endnre. 

Mi's. Walsh was born on the 25th of December, 
1812, in the old Gratiot mansion, on Main street. 
When she was qnite a little girl, in 1820, the family 
went to Cuba, to a place called Matanzas, where 
hei' father owned large plantations, and where she 
acqnired the Spanish langnage, Avhich she continned 
to speak with ease and elegance. In 1831 they 
retnuned to St. Lonis. On the 24th of Jannary, 
1840, Miss Isabella was married to Edward Walsh, 
whose name and fame as a merchant and citizen 
need no trnmpeting in St. Lonis, and of which we 
will only say that they constitnte the most precious 
heritage of his children. Mr. Walsh was a widower 
when he married the subject of onr notice, and had 
one child, who is now Mrs. John Humphreys, of 
^N^ew York. Mr. Walsh, who died in March, 1866, 
had seven children by his second wife, ^ve of whom 
are now living, namely, Julius S. Walsh, Mrs. Marie 
C. Chambers, John A., Edward, and Daniel E. 
Walsh. Mrs. Walsh was a lady of fine presence 



O. D. FILLEY. 429 

and fine manners, as were indeed most of the women 
of her race. The old French school of manners 
was the best the world has ever seen, and its tradi- 
tions were cherished all the more, pei'haps, in this 
country because the branch was forever severed from 
the parent stem. She gave herself entirely to her 
family. So devoted was she in this respect that she 
was virtuallv a recluse, so far as «'eneral societv was 
concerned. She was assiduous in performing works 
of charity, and gave with a liberal hand, — a hand 
commensurate with her abundant means. Though 
really timid as well as retiring, she possessed decision 
and firmness of character in no ordinar}^ degree. In 
closing this brief notice, we venture to assert that 
we give very inadequate expression to the sentiments 
of love and admiration entertained towards her ])y 
all who knew her intimately. 



O. D. Filley was one of the fii-st to establish a 
tin-shop and engage in the foundry business and the 
manufacture of stoves in the city of St. Louis. 

One great cause of the rise, progress, and growth 
of the city of St. Louis may be said to be the charac- 
ter of the men who were combined together in the 



430 O. D. FILLEY. 

building up of this proud and prosperous metropolis. 
Take the men in all branches of business, — the mer- 
chants, the mechanics, the steamboatmen, the law- 
yers, the doctors, and in fact men in every pursuit of 
life, — and we must admit that there never was brought 
together such a rare and rich combination of talent, 
genius, and industry as were united in the city of 
St. Louis some forty or fifty years ago. 

These men all seemed to be governed by the 
noblest impulses of our nature, and directed by the 
strictest principles of honor, honesty, uprightness, 
and integrity that can control and influence the con- 
duct and actions of men. In fact, every man's 
word was his bond, and could be implicitly relied 
upon. The prominent men, who gave, as it were, 
tone, direction, and management to affairs, were, so 
to speak, the choice and picked men from almost 
every other State in the Union ; for they had not 
only come from almost every other State, but in 
many instances from almost every county in every 
other State. Such were the men in whose hands 
were placed the destinies, fortunes, and future gran- 
deur of our noble city. 

In the mechanical class O. D. Filley was promi- 
nent. He labored long and faithfully, and contrib- 
uted largely to his portion of the undertaldng. And 



THOMAS TASKER GANTT. 431 

after acquiring, with honest industry and generous 
enterprise, a large and ample fortune, he has retired 
from active business, to enjoy with his own family, 
in repose and leisure, the pleasures and blessings 
so becoming his declining years. He is respected 
by his fellow-citizens, honored and beloved by his 
neighbors, and should be held up to the rising 
generation as an example in life worthy of imita- 
tion. 

Mr. Filley, in his long career in St. Louis, has 
been honored with public position, place, and station, 
having been more than once elected mayor of the 
city of St. Louis, the duties of which office he dis- 
charged with great satisfaction to the community. 
He was never an office-seeker, and only accepted 
place and station when it was imposed upon him by 
his party and friends. 



Thomas Tasker Gantt may be reckoned in the 
front rank, among the most eminent and distin- 
guished lawyers who have been connected with the 
legal profession in the valley of the Mississippi for 
the last thirty years. His long residence in the great 
city of St. Louis, where he had to contend with men 



432 THOMAS TASKER GANTT. 

of ability, of learning', and of geniuw at the bar, 
entitles him to this distinction, — a bar, during the 
time of Mr. Gantt's professional career, that was 
not inferior to any other bar in the nation. 

Thomas Tasker Gantt was born in Georgetown, 
District of Columbia, the twenty-second day of July, 
1814. His family were Mary landers . His father 
was a native of Prince George County, and his 
mother was a daughter of Maj. Benjamin Stoddart, 
of the Maryland line dui'ing the Hevolutionary war, 
and secretary of the navy under the administration 
of John Adams. As Marylanders, the family par- 
took of the ancient and polished manners, the 
g-enerous hospitality, the ideas of life, the social 
and refined intercourse which distinguished the in- 
habitants of that old and accomplished colony. 

Mr. Gantt, when only four years old, lost his 
father by death ; and his mother, being left a widow, 
removed in 1818 to a farm, purchased by her hus- 
band l)efore his death, in Pi'ince George County, 
Maryland. Mr. Gantt was subsequently sent to 
Geoi-getown College. In the year 1831, while still 
a student there, he received an appointment as a 
cadet to West Point, and i-epaired to the United 
States Military Academy in tlie month of June of 
that year. He there prosecuted his studies with dili- 



REMOVES TO ST. LOUIS. 433 

gence for the course of two years, when, havmg 
finished liis mathematical course, he was given a 
furlough. While at the academy he had severely 
sprained his right ankle, and was suffering from the 
accident Avhen the examination of 1833 was closed. 
The injury proved to be very serious and rendered 
him lame for several years, and compelled him reluc- 
tantly to resign his position at West Point and give 
up his military aspirations. 

Mr. Gantt, having now arrived at manhood, began 
to think for himself. Since his cherished hopes of 
military life had been cut off, by reason of the 
accident which caused his lameness, he chose the 
profession of the law, to which he devoted himself 
with the most assiduous attention. He studied law 
in Prince George County, Maryland, inider that 
accomplished scholar and finished lawyer, Thomas 
G. Pratt, governor of Maryland, and was admitted 
to practice in Maryland in the year 1837. 

In the month of May, 1839, Mr. Gantt removed 
to Missouri, and took up his residence in St. Louis, 
where he established himself as a practising lawyer, 
and where he has resided ever since, realizing a 
large and remunerative compensation from his prac- 
tice. In the year 1845, President Polk appointed 
him United States district attorney for the District 

28 



434 THOMAS TASKER GANTT. 

of Missouri, and he held that position for the period 
of four years. The duties of this office he dis- 
charged with great industry and with the most signal 
and distinguished ability. As an evidence of this, it 
may be stated that when his commission expired, in 
the year 1849, only two ceases remained on the docket 
to which the United States was a party, one of 
which was an indictment fonnd some few years 
before, and on which the defendant had never been 
arrested ; the other, an action commenced about a 
fortnight before Mr. Gantt was relieved by the ap- 
pointment of his successor. 

In the year 1849 the cholera raged in St. Louis 
with terrible fury. The functionaries of the city 
government and municipal authorities, except Mayor 
Ban-y, mostly absented themselves from the city, and 
left the desolating hand of pestilence to sweep over 
the devoted city. In the hour of anguish and deso- 
lation, when death was claiming its victims every 
day by the hundred, noble, generous-hearted pri- 
vate citizens of the great city met in public meeting 
and strongly censured the neglect thus shown by the 
city government. In that meeting of the citizens, 
a committee of two from each of the then six 
wards of the city was appointed to present to the 
City Council the resolutions of censure adopted by 



BOARD OF HEALTH ORGANIZED. 435 

the meeting of private citizens. The luenibers of 
the City Council were all within a short distance of 
the city, and having been apprised from pul:>lications 
in the newspapers of what was done in the meeting 
of the citizens, these fugitives very soon came sneak- 
ing in, and privately, hurriedly, and hastily met and 
passed, in advance, an ordinance to transfer to the 
members of the committee of citizens all the power 
of the Council respecting the health of the city, and 
made an appropriation of ten thousand dollars to 
carry out the objects contemplated by said ordinance. 
And then the members of the City Council immedi- 
ately adjourned and dispersed, without giving the 
committee appointed by the meeting an interview, or 
an opportunity to present the resolutions of censure 
adopted by the public meeting of citizens. 

After this, the committee met and entered upon the 
discharge of the duties which had devolved upon 
them, and which they voluntaril}^ assumed. Mr. 
Gantt, from his activit}^ and the deep interest he 
had manifested in getting uj) the organization, Avas 
unanimously elected president of the committee, 
which was called the Board of Public Health, and 
the Hon. Samuel Treat, present United States dis- 
trict judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, 
secretary. For more than thirty-six days this com- 



436 THOMAS TASKER GANTT. 

mittee was most laboriously engaged, without 
compensation, in performing- the duties in behalf 
of suffering humanity which the city functionaries 
composing the City Council had neglected. Mayor 
James G. Barry, however, is to be excepted, as he 
remained at his post and co-operated with the com- 
mittee. After the cholera had passed away, sweep- 
ing off more than six thousand of the most valuable 
citizens, the committee made a full statement of the 
amount of money expended by them, and resigned 
the trust reposed in their Imnds. 

The next pnblic service of Thomas T. Gantt was 
rendered in the year 1853, when he was appointed 
by Mayor How city counsellor of the city of St. 
Lonis, a position which he held for two years. 
When he left the office, only one case to which 
the city of St. Louis was a party remained undis- 
posed of, and that had been continued throughout his 
term of office on the affidavit of the defendant and 
at his costs, the city being always ready for trial. 

In Angust, 1854, a serious liot occurred in St. 
Louis. It was suppressed by the volunteer citizens 
as patrol of the city, after two days of disorder 
and confusion. The patrol was under the general 
orders of Capt. ]N^. J. Eaton, assisted by many 
captains of volunteer companies, of whom Mi-. 



AN INDIGNATION MEETING. 437 

Gantt was one. At that time the police of the 
city of St. Louis was very poorly org-anized, and 
there was no act on the statute-book proper!}^ guard- 
ing the community against such outrages upon civil 
order and good government. Such an act was pre- 
pared and drafted by Mi*. Gantt, and on being sent 
to the General Assembly, was enacted into a law. 
It was first made applicable to the city of St. Louis 
alone, but in the yeai* 18(35 the chief features of 
this necessary law were incorporated into and made 
a part of the general statutes of the State. 

Again : in the year 1858 the County Court of St. 
Louis County was guilty of a great wrong, in impos- 
ing an exorbitant tax on the people of St. Louis 
County, and of an enormous, unjustifiable, and 
scandalous Avaste of public money. The unwar- 
ranted abuse of that tribunal was so flagrant as to 
excite general indignation. To such a pitch was the 
mind of the public aroused that a public meeting 
was called and held by the citizens, at which resolu- 
tions wei*e passed, and a committee was appointed to 
visit Jefferson City in the year 1859, and to take such 
legislative action as to relieve the citizens from their 
grievances. Mr. Gantt was the leading spirit^ and 
the head and front of this committee ; he had made 
the report upon which the committee acted. The 



438 THOMAS TASKEK GANTT. 

result was that, in pursuance of the recommendation 
of the committee, tlie Legislature ])assed a law abol- 
ishing- tlie County Court of St. Louis, and reducing 
the taxation and ex]3enses of the county. This great 
act against op[)ressi()n and wi'ong was drafted by Mr. 
Gantt. The operation of this act was most l)ene- 
ficial and salutary. After four years the county 
court was restoi'ed, and continued until the year 1876, 
when it was again aboKshed. The ])ro vision of the 
new Constitution of 1875 under which this court was 
finally got rid of, was the special contribution of Mr. 
Gantt. 

In Februai'v, 18(51, Mr. Gantt was elected as an 
unconditional LTnion man from the city and comity 
of St. Louis to the State Convention, called undeni- 
ably for the purpose of passing an ordinance of 
secession. When the convention met, more than 
two-thirds of that l)ody were strong LTnion men, and 
decidedly opposed to secession ; and accordingly reso- 
lutions were adopted in that body at the March ses- 
sion, 1861, opposing secession in the most determined 
and decisive terms. These resolutions and measures 
met with Mr. Gantt' s unqualified support. 

At another session of the State Convention, held 
in the month of July, 1861, when the rebel governor, 
Claiborne F. Jackson, and the lieutenant-governor. 



ON GEN. McCLELLAN'S STAFF. 439 

Thomas C. Reynolds, and both houses of the General 
Assembly, had all given evidence and proof of their 
secession proclivities, and of their open hostility to 
the government of the United States, these execntive 
and legislative functionaries were deposed by the 
State Convention, and they fled beyond the bound- 
aries of the State and joined the rebel forces. 
A provisional State government for the State of Misr- 
souri was established by the convention, with Ham- 
ilton Rowan Gamble at its head as governor. To all 
these measures Mr. Gantt lent an able and eflacient 
support, and nnder any and all circumstances he Avas 
found standing up for and maintaining the cause of 
the Union. On this point he was unconditional, un- 
yielding, and uncompromising from first to last. 

After this service in the State Convention, Mr. 
Gantt, in August, 1861, visited Washington City, 
when he was appointed by Gen. McClellan, then in 
command of the Army of the Potomac, one of his 
aids, with the rank of colonel ; a position for which 
Col. Gantt was well qualified, from his previous mili- 
tary education . He was engaged thereafteT-, until the 
Army of the Potomac took the field, in March, 1862, 
in discharging the duties of judge advocate, for which 
his legal mind and cultivation so well adapted him. He 
remained in the field with the Army of the Potomac, 



440 THOMAS TASKER GANTT. 

in active service all the time, till the army reached 
Harrison's Landing, in Jnly, 1862, w^hen he was 
from ill-health relnctantly compelled to retire from 
the service. 

Upon retnrning to his home in St. Louis, he 
was appointed by Gen. Schofield provost-marshal 
general for the State of Missouri, and performed 
the duties of that most delicate and responsible office 
amongst the people with whom he had lived, with 
great satisfaction to the public, till ^N^ovember, 1862, 
when it was ascertained that he was serving without 
compeiisaticm, as he had resigned his commission, 
and there was no provision for the pay of a provost- 
marshal as such. (xen. Halleck, then in command, 
relieved him from duty; when Col. Gantt resumed 
the practice of his profession with his usual activity 
and industry, until the year 1875, when he was 
elected, from the city of St. Louis, a member of the 
Constitutional Convention of Missouri, and took his 
seat in that body in May, 1875. He was a reliable 
and efficient meml)er, and took a very prominent 
part in framing the new Constitution, which, being 
submitted to a vote of the people of the State, was 
almost unanimously adopted, in the month of Octo- 
ber, 1875. 

In the inoiith of December, 1875, (Jol. Gantt 



JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS. 441 

was appointed by Gov. Hardin, of Missouri, after 
the new Constitution had been adopted, one of the 
judges of the St. Louis Court of Appeals, and was 
the presiding' officer of that tribunal. The same 
systematic order which Col. Gantt had been accus- 
tomed to use in his business as a practising lawyer 
was carried with him on the bench. He presided 
with dignity, impartiality, and courtesy ; nothing 
was permitted to go at loose ends. He presided 
with marked ability as a judge of that court through 
the entire year 1876. It was provided by law that 
the judges of this court should be elected by the 
people for the terms of four, eight, and twelve years, 
in JS^ovember, 1876. Judge Gantt was willing to 
continue as judge if elected ; but his views of pro- 
priety and of the station to be occupied would not 
permit him to solicit the office, or employ the in- 
trigues and arts of the demagogue to gain it. For 
it is but justice to Judge Gantt to say, that he has as 
little of the elements of the demagogue in his com- 
position as any man living. When he accepted a 
seat upon the high bench of the Court of Appeals, 
he relinquished a lucrative practice, from the high 
and honorable motive that we was willing to serve 
the bar and the public in a judicial capacity, and 
that his well-earned reputation as a man and a 



442 THOMAS TASKEK GANTT. 

jurist were sufficient recommendations to procure 
his being retained. At any rate, he refused to base 
his claim upon any other consideration. A conven- 
tion of the Democratic party placed another individ- 
ual in the seat held by Judge Gantt. He was urged 
by his friends to accept of an independent call, and 
become a candidate irrespective of party. This he 
declined, because his motives might be misconstrued ; 
although he had submitted himself to no party nomi- 
nation, condemning, as he did, all party nominations 
for judicial station. Besides, he considered the 
obligation he had conferred on the community and 
the bar, by serving on the bench, at least a full 
compensation for that judicial seat. He returned to 
the bar on the 1st of January, 1877, and again has 
become the recipient of a lucrative practice. 

In this short sketch it is impossible to speak of 
Judofe Gantt in full, and as he deserves. He is a 
man of warm impulses, and a generous friend. By 
his own industry, energy, and enterprise he has 
acquired a competent fortune ; is a fine scholar, a 
finished and accomplished lawyer, and has won for 
himself in the community where he has so long lived, 
the reputation of an honest man, and an upright, 
public-spirited, worthy citizen, ever to be relied upon 
in the hour of danger and public emergency. 



GILES F. FILLEY. 44^ 

This was fully manifested in the great strike made 
throughout the country in July 1877, when Judge 
Grantt was one of the most active, energetic, and 
efficient men to unite and arm the citizens of the city 
of St. Louis, to preserve order, and protect the lives 
and property of the citizens. As one of the Com- 
mittee of Safety, he co-operated with the mayor and 
the Board of Police Commissioners. Complete sue- 
cess crowned these efforts. The mob was put down 
and the ringleaders captured without the loss of life^ 
or one single dollar's worth of damage done to prop- 
erty ; and this at a time when many lives had been 
sacriticed by the mob and millions of property de~ 
stroyed in Pittsburg, Baltimore, and other places. 



Giles F. Filley is named as one of the proud 
mechanics of St. Louis, whose name and conduct 
would entitle him to honor and respect in any age^ 
in any coiuitry, and with any community. 

He was born in the paiish of Wentonsbury^ 
Connecticut, now called Bloomfield, in the vear 
1815. He left Connecticut, and started out in life 
for himself, on September 1, 1834, and came to St. 
Louis, where he arrived on the 1st of October. He 
commenced to learn the trade of a tinner in St- 



444 GILES F. FILLEY. 

Louis with his brother, O. D. Filley, and voluntarily 
bound himself as an apprentice. Serving out his 
time, he was taken into partnership by his brother, 
with wiiom he remained till the year 1841, when he 
dissolved the partnership and entered into the crock- 
ery business in St. Louis till the year 1849, when he 
sold out. 

Mr. Giles F. Filley next commenced a manufac- 
turing- establishment, known as the ''Excelsior 
Manufacturing* Company,'' for the making of stoves. 
It was a most successful enterpi'ise, the product of 
which since its organization has been upwards of 
seven hundred thousand stoves, of which about three 
hundred and thirty thousand stoves have been the 
<30okin<>--stoves known as the ''Charter Oak." So 
popular has this stove become, and into such general 
use has it gone, that it has been estimated that this 
one kind of cooking-stove has done about one-thirtieth 
part of all the stove-cooking in the United States. 

We had intended merely to speak of Mr. Filley 
as a business man, and the marked and distinguished 
ability with which he conducted his affairs. He has 
ever been successful. He has put at defiance all 
strihes and efforts to interfere with his men and 
interrupt his business, and has managed his affairs 
in his own way, according to his OAvn judgment. 

Mr. Filley has met with disappointments in busi- 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 445 

ness. One of the most remarkable events which 
befel him in business, perhaps, was his having- 
indorsed notes in the city of St. Lonis, in round 
numbers, to the sum of about one milhon dollars. 
The individual failed, and these notes went to pro- 
test with Mr. Filley's indorsement upon them. Mr. 
Filley, instead of saying that he would give up his 
property and quit business, went to the holders of 
the paper and told them, ''Gentlemen, I have not 
the money to pay this debt ; but give me time, and I 
will go to work and earn the money, and satisfy you 
all." They did so; and Mr. Filley did go to w^ork, 
and did earn the money, and did pay the debt. We 
doubt if another such example, where there was such 
a large amount of money to be paid, can be found in 
the whole country. Such men as these were charged 
with the duty of rearing and building up the great 
and glorious city upon the west bank of the Missis- 
sippi Kiver; such were their mental qualities, deter- 
mination, and abilities. 



Of Abraham Lincoln it is not our intention to 
give anything but a brief notice. But as we knew 
him well, and belonged to the same political party 



446 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

(the old Whig party), and were associated with him, 
and took part in addressing' the same political assem- 
blies, a few words in regard to him may not be out 
of place. 

In the great Whig campaign of 1840, when poHt- 
ical excitement ran to a higher pitch of enthusiasm 
than has ever been known since the foundation of this 
government, — in the memorable days of ''log cab- 
ins," " 'coon-skins," " hard cider," of " Tippecanoe 
and Tyler too," — it Avas customary for the prominent 
Whig speakers from Illinois to come over to Missouri 
and take part in the political harangues in this State, 
and in like manner the Whig speakers in Missouri 
were frequently invited over into the State of Illinois 
to take part in the political discussions east of the 
Mississippi River. Myself and the late Judge 
AVilson Primm, of St. Louis, were frequently called 
upon to take part in the political discussions in that 
great State. 

A great gathering of the Whigs had been an- 
nounced to meet at Belleville, in the month of April, 
1840, to which Judge Primm and myself were invited. 
The crowd was immense, as all the Whig meetings 
in those times were. Mr. Lincoln was on that occa- 
sion the first speaker. He rang all the change supon 
^''coon-skins," "hard cider," "log cabins," etc.; 



A CHARACTERISTIC SPEECH. 447 

and, among other things, he launched forth in true 
Lincohi style and manner, and said he had been 
" raised over tliar on Irish potatoes and buttermilk, 
and mauling rails." In fact, Mr. Lincoln seemed to 
be getting the subject into burlesque and ridicule, 
with a certain degree of humor and fun which he 
seemed to have ready, and to call into requisition on 
occasion. I went to Col. Edward Baker, I think it 
was, and told him, for goodness sake, to try and get 
Lincoln down from the stand : that he was doing 
us more harm than good. Said I to Col. Baker, 
^'We are making this thing ridiculous enough, any- 
how, with our ''coon-skins' and 'hard cider' em- 
blems and representations ; but when Lincoln goes to 
weaving in his buttermilk, Irish potatoes, and rail- 
mauling, it would seem as if we are verging rather 
too near onto the ridiculous." We succeeded very 
soon in getting Lincoln down from the stand, and 
got up another speaker, who seemed to have more 
judgment in managing the canvass. The enthusiasm 
was great. 

We might, if we had space, give many interesting 
anecdotes, sketches, and incidents characteristic of 
Abraham Lincoln, but those characteristics are too 
familiar to require any lengthened dissertation at our 
hands. 



448 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 

The virtue and intelligence of the people is a 
prolific theme for the politicians of this great country, 
founded as it is upon, and upheld by public opinion 
alone ; nor is it our wish in the least to detract, in 
any mannei", from this universal sentiment of the 
great body of mankind in this republic. The his- 
torical fact, however, still remains, that Abraham 
Lincoln was started and run into the presidential 
chair upon a ''fence-rail" by the Republican party, 
and that in like manner the Whig party clothed 
William Henry Harrison with presidential position 
and honors from having started and elevated him 
to that distinguished station upon a "'coon-skin" 
and its appliances. 



Perhaps something should be said of Ulysses 
S. Grant in these pages. We knew him well. 
When Lieut. Grant, of the United States army, was 
about to marry Miss Julia Dent, his present wife, 
Mr. Frederick Dent, the father of Miss Dent, did 
myself and my wife the distinguished honor to invite 
us to the wedding. I had known Mr. Dent from 
the time I was a boy, — all my life, 1 may say, — and 
had always been on terms of personal friendship 



THE WEDDING. 449 

with him and with many of his family, especially the 
boys. Mr. Dent was a farmer of modei-ate means 
and a man of great respectability, who lived on a 
farm abont ten miles in a sonth-westerly direction 
from the city of St. Louis, in the " Gravois settle- 
ment," St. Louis County, whei*e he raised his family. 
When his daughters grew up, he used to move into 
town hi the winter, for the benefit of society, and 
partly to educate his younger children. At the time 
of the marriage of Miss Dent, her father, Fredeiick 
Dent, lived in a small two-story brick house on the 
south-west corner of Ceri'e and Fourth Streets, in 
the city of St. Louis. The house was an humble, 
unpretending edifice, and yet stands there (1880). 
The wedding was a quiet and unostentatious affair, 
at which there were about two hundred persons, the 
most respectable people of the city of St. Louis. 
Such was the beginning of matrimonial life with 
U. S. Grant and Julia Dent, both of Avhom still 
survive, and who have filled quite a large space in 
the public eye. 

At that wedding, for the first time, I saw U. S. 
Grant, then a lieutenant in the United States army. 
Shortly after that, U. S. Grant went to California, 
in the military service of his country. After a short 
time he resigned and returned to Missouri, and took 

29 



450 ULYSSES S. GRANT. 

up his residence as a private citizen on the Dent 
farm, St. Louis County. His father-in-law, it was 
said, gave his son-in-law, Mr. Grant, eighty acres 
of land, in the woods, on the ridge a little north 
of the old ''homestead." Here the man of then 
future greatness, glory, and renown built himself a 
log cabin and established ' ' a local habitation and a 
home." He made a livuig for himself and wife by 
cutting and hauling iire-wood into the city of St. 
Louis, being able to make one trip a day, and to sell 
one load of wood on each trip. Many a time could 
the man of then humble pretensions be seen driving 
his two-horse, bran-fed, switch-tailed, raw-boned 
team up Fourth Street, in the city of St. Louis, 
with his post-oak load of wood, without even an 
inquiring glance from any one on the sidewalk as 
to who he was, or as to who the poor vendor of the 
post-oak load of wood might be. 

When 1 had the honor of being elected to the 
Congress of the United States from the city of St. 
Louis, in the year 1850, by the great, powerful, and 
distinguished Whig party, to which I belonged, — 
being the first Whig that had been elected from the 
State of Missouri for a period of twenty-five years, 
say from the year 1826, when the Hon. Edward 
Bates was elected, to 1850, when I was elected, — I 



THE FIRM OF BOGGS & GRANT. 451 

had my office on Pine Street, a few dooi's below 
Third Street ; and when I went to Washington City 
I left my office in charge of Josiah G. McClellan, 
Esq., then a yonng attorney, just come to the State. 
After my retnrn from Congress, I engaged in little 
or no practice whatever ; still I went to the office 
every day, from habit, as a place to Avrite letters and 
attend to my OAvn private bnsiness. A man by the 
name of Harry Boggs, a son of a former merchant 
of St. Louis, George Boggs, was a cousin of Mrs. 
U. S. Grant. I was infoi-med that Harry Boggs 
was about forming a partnership with U. S. Grant 
to go into the real-estate business and rent-collect- 
ing, and wanted desk-room or a place in my office. 
The ffi'm was Boggs & Grant, and they commenced 
and did business mostty as rent-collectors, which 
they continued for some months, occupying desk- 
room in my office. 

The gentlemen, thus engaged in the laudable 
effort of trjnng to make a living, met with moder- 
ate success in the pursuit of their business. About 
that time an office was about to be filled in the St. 
Louis County Court, viz., that of county engineer, 
to take care of the county roads, and the grading 
and macadamizing of these thoroughfares and keep- 



452 ULYSSES S. GEANT. 

iiig the same in repair. The judges of the St. Louis 
County Court, which was composed of five persons, 
had the ajjpointnient, and the salary w\as two thou- 
sand dollars a year, payable out of the county treas- 
ury. The officials who composed the court and 
occupied the county tribunal at that time were 
Taussig, of Carondelet ; Easton and Lightner, of 
the city of St. Louis ; Farrar, of St. Ferdinand ; 
and Tippett, of Meramec Township. 

As Grant was in very reduced circumstances, 
struggling to make a living for his family, some of 
his friends, moved by considerations of disinterested 
kindness alone, determined to try and get the St. 
Louis County Court to appoint him county engineer. 
We drew up a petition to the County Court for his 
appointment to the position sought. It w^as signed 
by few of Grrant's friends, perhaps seven or eight 
persons. I recollect well getting Col. John O' Fal- 
lon, a man of great distinction, position, and 
influence, to sign the petition, and that I signed 
the same immediately under the signature of Col. 
O' Fallon. There was another applicant for the 
same office, Mr. Salomon. 

It is proj)er to remark that this petition to the 
County Court for the appointment of U. S. Grant 



URGING HIM FOK COUNTY ENGINEER. 453 

as county engineer I have tried to find, and had the 
keeper of the reeoi-ds search for some half a dozen 
times in last month, but without success, so that I 
might have had a copy made to insert in this brief 
sketch. I had seen it among the files of the papers 
frequently, many years after it had been presented 
to the court ; but it seems that the petition has been 
lost, or in some way abstracted from the files of the 
records in the office. 

After the petition had been presented to the court 
for Gi-ant's appointment, I went in person to see 
some of the judges, to urge his appointment. Meet- 
ing with Judge Tippett off the bench, I made it my 
business to speak to him privately, referiing to the 
petition praying for Grant's appointment, the great 
respectability of the signers, generally, to the peti- 
tion. In as decent, proper, aud becoming a manner 
as I could, with a due regard to his station, and 
speaking entirely in behalf of the pubhc good, I 
pressed upon the judge the appointment prayed for 
in the petition. To which the judge replied, -'Why, 
Mr. Darby, I don't know him." ''That maybe 
so," said I, " but, Judge Tippett, he is vouched for 
by Col. O' Fallon and other gentlemen of high 
character whom you do know. Besides," said 



454: ULYSSES S. GRANT. 

I, '' he was educated at West Point, and is, no 
doubt, qualified for the position. Moreover," I con- 
tinned, '' his wife is a daughter of Frederick Dent, 
was boru in the county, and has some claims upon 
us on that account." ''Well," said Judge Tippett, 
"I'll vote for him on the recommendation given me 
by Col. O' Fallon, yonrself, and others." Judge 
Easton seemed to have little knowledge of Grant, 
and apparently took little interest in him. The elec- 
tion for county engineer came off in the County 
Court, when Judges Taussig, Lightner, and Farrar 
voted for Salomon, and Tippett and Easton voted 
for Grant. Salomon was elected. Grant defeated. 
This was, I think, in the year 1859 ; after which 
Grant left St. Louis and went to Galena, Illinois, 
where he began dealing in hides. Since then his his- 
tory is well known. 

Many stories, incidents, and anecdotes might be 
told of Grant, which would be amusing, if not in- 
structive. When Grant, in his days of humiliating 
poverty and humble life, used to drive his poor old 
raw-boned two-horse team up Fourth Street, in the 
city of St. Louis, with his miserable post-oak load 
of wood on his wagon, the animals that drcAV the 
load wei*e so shabby and weak that you could almost 



FKOM WOOD-HAULER TO TllESIDENT. 455 

count their ribs from the sidewalk. There were men 
who looked upon that poverty-stricken concern, in- 
cluding driver and all, Avho scorned to acknowledge 
Grant as an acquaintance, much less to recognize 
him as a friend, who were too eager afterwards to 
rush forward to throw themselves, in the most de- 
graded and debased Avay, at the feet of power and 
of greatness. Some of these men afterwards, when 
Grant had become president of the United States, 
and when he used to visit St. Louis, would procure 
carriages and drive across the bridge to the Illinois 
shoi-e, and watch with midnight vigils the hour of 
his coming on the railroad, that they might meet 
and greet him. And when these worshippers at the 
shrine of distinction and power came within the per- 
fume of the cigar of the great man, they seemed to 
be moved by an Elysian happiness and pleasure that 
was perfectly intoxicating to these time-serving mor- 
tals. Contempt for Grant as a wood-hauler, glory 
for him as president, — vei-ifying, in this respect, the 
lines of the poet : — 

'^ And what is friendship but a name, — 
A charm that lulls to sleep ; 
A shade that follows wealth or fame, 
But leaves the wretch to weep." 



456 GOING THROUGH THE RYE. 



GOING THROUGH THE RYE. 



BY N. M. LUDLOW. 



To the Hon. John F. Darby the following verses are respect- 
f nlly presented, with the compliments and esteem of the author. 
(December, 1875.) 

(Air — " Coming thro'' the Bye.'''') 

If a body meet a body 

Goino- through the " Rye," 
And a body takes a toddy. 

Need a body cry ? 

Many a laddie has a daddy 

Who at times is dry, 
And in the morn will take a horn, 

And never wet an eye. 

Those who teach and often preach 

Ao-ainst the use of ''Rye," 
Will in small rings adjourn to ''King's " 

And take it " on the sly." 

But those who think it right to drink 

Should never get "too high," 
Nor e'er " o-et tight," in broad daylight. 

By " going it " on the " Rye." 

I know a man — whose name is Dan — 

Wh(j very oft is dry. 
Who said, "My dear, I feel quite queer; 

I'd like a little 'Rye.' " 



THE GOVEKNORS. 457 

She gave him some — but call'd it rum — 

That she had bought that day ; 
He took a draught, which caused a laugh, 

For it was christen' d " Bay." 

Says Dan, "Oh, dear! What have you here ? 
I'mpoison'd! Oh, I'll die." 
" My life ! " said she, "you frighten me ! 
I'll quickly get some ' Rye.' " 

The " Rye " was brought (just as Dan thought), 

Which she did quick apply ; 
And Dan — not dead — rose up and said, 
You've saved me with the ' Rye.' " 



u 



Now, gentle wife, give up the strife ; 

Hide notawa}^ his " Rye," 
Or Dan will roam away from home, 

And drink when j^ou're not by. 

No good fellow, who gets mellow, 

But will love his wife ; 
And ev'ry year she'll prove more dear 

To him, throuo-h a lono- life. 



The following- is a list of all the lieutenant- 
governors of Upper Louisiana, the governors of 
the Territory, and also of the State of Missouri, 
which may be of sufficient public interest to cause 
it to be published : — 

St. Ange, who was called " St. Ange de Belle- 



458 THE GOVERNORS. 

rive,-' was the first lieutenant-go venior of Upper 
Louisiana, and took up his residence in St. Louis 
within the first vear after Laclede founded the town, 
in 176L 

Don Pedro Piernas succeeded St. Ange as lieuten- 
ant-governor, in Fel)rnary, 1771. 

Don Francisco Cruzat was appointed lieutenant- 
governor of Upper Louisiana, and took u]) his resi- 
dence in St. Louis, in 1775. 

Don Fernando de Leyba superseded him as lieu- 
tenant-governor in 1778. He was removed by the 
governor-general at 'New Orleans in 1781, when Don 
Manuel Perez was appointed and acted as lieu- 
tenant-governor at St. Louis for a short time. Don 
Francisco Cruzat was then reappointed, and served 
till the year 1785, when he was relieved, and Don 
Zenon Trudeau was appointed lieutenant-governor 
in his stead, and acted as such till August, 1799 ; 
when he in turn was supplanted by Don Carlos De- 
hault Delassus, who was the last lieutenant-governor 
of Upper Louisiana, and who delivered the country 
over to Maj. Stoddard, as the representative and 
aofent of the United States. 

The ceremony of the transfer took place at the 
government-house, near what is now called Walnut 
and Main Streets, St. Louis, in March, 1804. All 



THE CEREMONY OF TRANSP^ER. 459 

the people of the town had been assembled there^ 
and filled the street in front of the house. 

When the French flag was haided down, and the 
stars and stripes were run up as emblematic of the 
sovereignty of the country, Col. Chai-les Gratiot 
called out, in the French language (for very few of 
the people could speak English) , for three cheers for 
the American flag. But no cheers were given ; the 
people, many of them, shed tears. 

On that occasion Don Carlos Dehault Delassus, 
with tears in his eyes, told the people that, in obedi- 
ence to the command of the great IN^apoleon, he 
delivered this country, with all its inhabitants, to the 
government of the United States ; but that their 
country should be his country, and he would live 
and die with them as a private citizen. All these 
facts I learned from a daughter of Col. Charles 
Gratiot, now deceased, aud who was on the porch 
with her father, and witnessed the sceues and cere- 
monv of the transfer. Don Carlos Dehault Delas- 
sus was a native Spaniard, born at Seville, in An- 
dalusia, Spain. In a desperate encounter between 
the French and Spanish troops, where it was victory 
or death. Col. Delassus led the forlorn and last des- 
perate charge of the Spanish ti'oops, saved the honor 
of the Spanish flag, and won the victory. For this- 



460 THE GOVERNORS. 

the Idng of Spain promoted him, and appointed him 
commandant at ^ew Madrid, Upper Louisiana ; and 
afterwards his Catholic majesty appointed him heu- 
tenant-governor of Upper Louisiana, at St. Louis. 
I saw him here in St. Louis in the year 1837, where 
he spent several weeks, and I saw him again in ISTew 
Orleans in the year 1841. He was a man of most 
elegant manners, an accomplished gentleman, and of 
pleasing and winning address. He died in Xew 
Orleans, I think, about the yeai* 1842 or 1843. 

Gen. James Wilkinson, of the United States 
army, a native of Maryland, was the first governor 
of Upper Louisiana under the United States govern- 
ment. 

Merri wether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark's expedi- 
tion, a native of Virginia, w^as the next governor. 
He was appointed governor of Upper Louisiana 
by Pi'esident Jefferson, after his return from the 
Pacific Ocean. He committed suicide in Tennessee, 
on his way to Washington City, in 1809. 

Samuel Hammond, born in Richmond County, 
Virginia, September 21, 1751, was for a short time 
governor of Upper Louisiana. He died in South 
Carolina, September 11, 1842, aged eighty -five. 

Benjamin Howard, a native of Kentucky, was 
the next governor, after the territory had been 



u:nder the state governmejnt. 461 

changed from Upper Louisiana to that of the Mis- 
souri Territory. He died hi St. Louis, Missouri^ 
September 18, 1814, while he was governor. His 
tomb is still to be seen in Grace Church grave- 
yard, in what was once called N^orth St. Louis. 

William Clark, of Lewis and Clark's expedi- 
tion, a native of Virginia, was the next and the last 
Territorial governor of Missouri, and continued in 
office as such till the year 1820, when the State 
Constitution was formed. He died in St. Louis, in 
September, 1838. His tomb is in O' Fallon Park, 
on the Belief ontaine Road. 

Alexander Mc^air, a native of Pennsylvania, was 
the first governor of the State of Missouri. He died 
in St. Louis in 1826. 

Frederick Bates, a native of Virginia, was the 
next governor of Missouri. He died in office, the 
first year of his administration, at his farm, in 
Bonhomme Township, St. Louis County, in 1825. 

John Miller, a native of Ohio, was the next 
governor of Missouri. He died in St. Louis County, 
March 18, 1846. Thei'e is a monument to his mem- 
ory in Belief ontaine cemetery. 

Daniel Dunklin, a native of South Carolina, was 
the next governor of Missouri. He died at his farm, 
in Jefferson County, Missouri, about the year 1845. 



462 THE GOVERN OKS. 

He had been lieutenant-governor before he was 
elected governor, and presided over the State Senate. 
He was called the '' strict constructionist,'" — true to 
his South Carolina political doctrine and teachings, — 
from tlie fact that when presiding over the Senate, the 
weather being intensely cold, he would beckon the 
door-keeper up to him, and direct him to set the door 
of the Senate Chambei* wide open. The members 
sitting near the door would get up and close the door 
to keep the cold out ; but so soon as the door was 
closed, the presiding officer would beckon the door- 
keeper up again, and direct him to open the door 
wide open. The weather was so cold that some of 
the members would get up and close the door again. 
At last the presiding officer of the Senate could stand 
it no longer. He drew -the attention of the Senate 
to the matter, and stated the fact that the Constitu- 
tion, which every member of the Senate had taken 
an oath to support, expressly provided that "both 
houses of the General Assembly should sit with open 
doors;" that he had tried to do his duty by keep- 
ing the ••' doors open," but that he regretted to see 
that some members of the Senate were disposed to 
violate the Constitution by closing the door. Quite 
m\ animated discussion arose in the Senate to decide 
whether shutting the door to keep the cold out merely, 



GOV. PKICE SIDES WITH THE "CONFEDERACY." 463 

was sitting ''with closed doors." The Senate de- 
cided that it was not. 

Lilbnrn W. Boggs, a native of Kentucky, was 
the next governor of Missouri. Joe Smith, the Mor- 
mon prophet, Avas charged with having attempted to 
assassinate him, and shot and wounded him in the 
head, after he had retired from office. He left the 
State in 1849, and went to California, whei-e he died 
many years ago. 

Thomas Reynolds, a native, I believe, of Ken- 
tucky, was the next governor of Missouri. He com- 
mitted suicide in the executive mansion in Jefferson 
City, during his term of office, about the year 1842. 

John C. Edwards, a native of the State of Ten- 
nessee, was the next governor of Missouri. After 
the expiration of his term he went to California. I 
do not know whether he is vet livino- or not. 

Austin A. King, a native of Sullivan County, 
Tennessee, born September 20, 1801, was the next 
governor of Missouri. He died in Ray County, Mis- 
souri. 

Sterling Price, a native of the State of Virginia, 
was the next governor of Missouri. He took an 
active part on the side of the Southern Confederacy, 
and after the war, fled to Mexico, from whence he 
returned and took up his residence in St. Louis, 
where he died verv shortlv afterwards. 



464 THE GOVERNOKS. 

Trusten Polk, a native of Sussex County, Dela- 
ware, born May 29, 1811, was the next governor of 
the State of Missouri. He was sworn into office as 
governor of the State, the first week in January, 
1857, and was elected to the United States Senate 
on the fourteenth day of January, 1857 ; so that he 
was actually governor less than fourteen days. His 
principal competitor for the Senate was John Smith 
Phelps, present governor of the State. Mr. Polk 
continued in office a few days after he had been 
elected senator,' when the executive mantle fell upon 
Hancock Jackson, then lieutenant-governor of the 
State, who perfoi-med the functions and filled the 
office of govei'uor till a new election was had, when 
Robert M. Stewart was elected for the balance of the 
term. Mr. Polk seemed to have beeii carried forward 
upon the same popular Avave that had wafted him 
into the executive mansion, into the Senate of the 
United States, from which he and his colleague, 
Waldo P. Johnson, were both expelled, January 10, 
1862, for having taken sides with and joined the 
Southern Confederacy. The State of Missouri was 
thereby left unrepresented in the United States 
Senate until Provisional Grovernor Hamilton Rowan 
Gamble appointed Robert Wilson and John B. Hen- 
derson to fill their places. Trusten Polk died in St. 
Louis, April 16, 1876. 



A MUCH MAKRIED GOVERNOR. 465 

Robert M. Stewart, born at Trenton, Cortland 
County, in the State of 'New York, was the next 
governor of Missouri. He died at St. Joseph, Mis- 
souri, September 21, 1871. 

Claiborne F. Jackson, a native of Kentucky, was 
the next governor of the State of Missouri. He 
joined the Southern Confederacy, and died during 
his term, at a farm-house opposite the city of Little 
Rock, Arkansas, amongst strangers, with no kind 
hand of affection near to soothe his pain and rob his 
death-bed of half its anguish. The most remark- 
able fact connected with the history of his life is, 
perhaps, the statement that he married five sisters, 
in one of the most respectable, wealthy, and distin- 
guished families in the State ; that as soon as one 
wdfe would die, he would go and marry her sister in 
a reasonable time ; of course, some of these were 
widows when he married them. In connection with 
these marriages, there was a standing joke told at 
the expense of the governor, which Avas, that when 
he went and asked the old gentleman's consent to 
marry the last one, the venerable father is reported 
to have said, ''Yes, Claib, you can have her; you 
have now got them all. For goodness sake, don't 
next ask me for the ' old woman.' " ~ 

Hamilton Rowan Gamble, a native of the State 

30 




466 THE GOVEPvNOKS. 

of Virginia, after Gov. Jackson had left the State, 
was elected j^^^ovisional governor by the State Con- 
vention, and died in office dnring the war, in the year 
1864, and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. 
Louis. 

Thomas C. Fletchei*, a native of Jefferson County, 
Missouri, and the first native-born elected governor, 
was the next governor of the State of Missouri. He 
is still living in St. Louis. "* 

Joseph W. McClurg, a native of St. Louis County, 
born on the Maline Creek, in St. Louis County, Mis- 
souri, was the next governor of the State of Mis- 
souri. He still lives in Missouri, on the waters of the 
Osage River. 

B. Gratz Brown, a native of Kentucky, was the 
next governor of the State of Missouri. He lives 
in the city of St. Louis, where he has lived for some 
years. 

Silas Woodson, a native of the State of Ken- 
tucky, was the next governor of the State of Mis- 
souri. He is still living in the westei'u part of the 
State. 

Charles H. Hardin, a native of the State of Ken- 
tncky, was the next governor of the State of Mis- 
soui-i. He was most rigid, stubborn, and unyielding 
in the refusal of pardons to con\4cts. It was said 



/ 



n 



NATIVITY OF THE GOVERNORS. 4:67 

of him, that he was iminoved by the most agonizing 
appeals and tears of affection of a fond mother in 
behalf of an imfortunate son, even Avhen the offence 
was not very serious; and by his stern, unyielding 
firmness to the appeals for mercy made in behalf of 
the unfoi'tunate in the State prison, had obtained for 
himself from those who had appealed to him in vain 
for executive clemency, the name of '' tlie unmerciful 
governor." He still lives in the State. 

John Smith Phelps, the last elected and present 
governor, was born in Simsburg, Hartford County, 
Connecticut, December 22, 1814. He still fills the 
executive mansion. * 

There were seven French and Spanish governors, 
five Territorial governors, and nineteen of the State 
government. 

It will be seen that seven of these governors of 
Missouri were natives of the State of Kentucky, 
^ve of the State of Virginia, two of the State of 
Tennessee, two of the State of Missouri, and the 
States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Caro- 
lina, Delaware, ^ew York, and Connecticut, one 
each. Six of them died in office, of wdiich number 
two committed suicide while clothed w ith executive . 
honors. Two of them left the State and went to 
California after the expii'ation of their term of oflfice. 



468 THE GOVERNORS. 

It has been remai'kecl of the governors of Mis- 
sonri who had won and WT)rn gubernatorial honors, 
that after having reached that elevated position they 
seemed to have passed that political bourne from 
which no aspirant for public place and honor e'er 
returned. It is true that one or two, after retirhig 
from the executive chair, by a last seeming spasmodic 
effort were elected to Congress, where they won but 
little distinction, and from which they returned and 
retired, as it were, to sleep that sleep in politics that 
knows no waking to public favor. 

As stated, I knew Grov. Don Carlos Dehault 
Delassus, the last of the Spanish governors. I also 
knew intimately and well Gen. William Clark (of 
Lewis and Clark's expedition), the last governor of 
the Territory of Missouri, and for twenty years before 
his deatli I had the honor to be a visitor at his hos- 
pitable mansion. 

It was my good fortune also to know each and 
everv li'overnor the State of Missouri ever had, with 
some of Avhom I had and held for many years most 
intimate relations of personal friendship. 



INDEX. 



Anderson, John J. & Co., bankers, fail, 359. 
Ashley, Gen. William H., in Congress, 220, 222. 
Astor, John Jacob, 163, 212. 

Barnes, Robert A. Sketch of his hfe, 415-419. 

Barry, James G., 426. 

Baker, Edward D. Sketch of his career, 350-352. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff (1861), 352. 
Barton, David. Sketch of early life, 20-26. 

Appointed judge, 27. 

At convention to form State Constitution, 28. 

Elected senator, 29. 

His struggle to elect Thomas H. Benton as United 
States senator, 30-33. • 

Public services, 34, 35. 

" Hurrah for the little red," 36. 

Fails of re-election to Senate, 39. 

Defeated for representative, 40. 

Sterling qualities and character, 40-42. 

Monument, 43. 
Barton, Rev. Isaac, concerning, 21-25. 
Barton, Isaac, second, 23, 26. 
Barton, Jane, 22. 
Barton, John, 23. 
Barton, Joshua, 23, 24. 
Barton, Martha, 21. 
Barton, William, 23. 

(4G9) 



470 INDEX. 

Bates, p]dvvard. Sketcli of his career and character, 395-402. 

Incidental mention, 18, 19, 24, 25, 37, 246. 
Bates, Fredericli, governor of Missouri, 55. 

Conduct at Gen. Lafa\'ette's reception, 56, 461. 
Bellesseme, Alexander. Meeting with Gen. Lafa3^ette, 62. 
Bent, Joini, 73. 
Benton, Thomas H. Elected to United States Senate, 29-33. 

Duel with Charles Lucas, 180. 

Opposition to railroads, 181, 182. 

Opinion of Douglas, 183. 

Characteristic anecdotes, 184-187, 

Personal appearance, 188. 
Breese, Sidney, 183. 
Berthold, Madame Pelagic. Short sketch of her life, 353-357. 

Her family, 357. 
Berthold, Bartholomew, 355-357. 
Biddle, Maj. Thomas, 58, 80. 

Affray and duel with Spencer Pettis, 189-198. 
Blood, SulUvan, 58, 135, 263, 366. 
Boggs, Gov. L. W., wounded, 200, 463. 
Bonneville, Madame. Sketch of her life, 233-237. 
Bonneville, Gen. Ben. E., 233. 
Boone, Daniel, 82. 
Brady, Thomas, 382. 
Brotherton, Marshall. Mention, 149. 

His connection, as bondsman, with the $100,000 defalca- 
tion from county treasury in 1860, and successful 
escape from serious disaster, 357-371. 
Brown, B. Gratz, 466 

Browne, Lionel. Duel with John Smith T, 90, 91. 
Budd, George K. His i)ai't in effecting the purchase of Washing- 
ton Square, 279-291. 

CabaiHie, John P., 31. 
Carr, William C, 153, 161 

Ceremony of transfer to United States government of Upper 
Louisiana, 459. 



INDEX. 471 

Charless, Joseph, oG. 

Chihuahua captured b}^ Gen. Doniphan, 383. 

Cholera in St. Louis in 1849, 384, 434. 

Chouteaus' mansions in 1818, 10, 11. 

Chouteau, Auguste, 31, 61. 

Chouteau, Auguste P., 383. 

Chouteau, G. S., 277. 

Chouteau, Aunt Jane. Her experience with some Abolitionists, 

384-391. 
Chouteau, Maj. Pierre, 31. • 

Entertains Gen. Lafayette, 57. 
Chouteau, Pierre, Jr., 18. 
Christy, William, Jr. Anecdote, 299. 
Clark, William, 461. 

Clay, Henry. Visit to St. Louis, 327-334. 
Collet, O. W. Speech of welcome to Daniel Webster, 267. 
Collier, George, 143. 
Conway, Capt. Joseph. Sketch of his early life, 81, 82. 

Sufferings at the hands of Indians, 83, 84. 
Cook, JohnD., anecdotes of, 123, 125. 
Cook, Nathaniel, 29. 
Corbin, Abel R., 288. 
Cruzat, Don Francis, 458. 

Darby, John F. His father removes to Missouri with his family 
in 1818, 1. ' 

Licidents of crossing the Mississippi River, 2, 3. 

A primitive ferry, 4. 

Has a curious experience before Justice Walsh, 113. 

Another before Justice Taylor, 116. 

Buys the Stokes property, 144. 

At Gasconade Circuit Court in 1827, 158. 

Uncomfortable adventure with H. R. Gamble, 176-179. 

First elected mayor of St. Louis in 1835, 202. 

Efforts to secure railroads, 203-209. 



472 INDEX. 

Darby, John F. — Contiimed. 

Makes recommendations concerning sand-bars in river, 

220, 221. 
Work in belialf of Lafayette Park and the public schools, 

243, 257. 
Incidents of a trip to Jefferson City, 251-256. 
Elected mayor again in 1840, 277. 

Largely assists in securing Wasliington Square, 279-291. 
His part in founding the St. Louis Law Library, 325, 

326. 
Extricates Marshall Brotherton from financial trouble, 

362-369. 
A noteworthy dinner-party, 377. 
Experience with an Abolitionist, 388-390. 
Seeks to secure an appointment for Lieut. U. S. Grant 

as county engineer, 454. 

De Leyba, Don Fernando, 458. 

De Smet, Father, 275. 

De Ward, Charles, 207. 

De Mun, Auguste, 408, 409. 

De Mun, Mrs. Isabelle. Sketch of her life and family, 405-411. 

De Mun, Julius, 382, 407, 408. 

Defalcation of $100,000 from St. Louis Count}^ treasur3% 357-371. 

Delasus, Don Carlos Dehault, 458, 459. 

Dervin, Pierre, 48. 

Dodge, Henry. Attempt to join Burr's expedition, 88. 

Doniphan, Gen., 383. 

Dougherty, Thomas M., murdered, 243. 

Du Bourg, Bishop, 272. 

Blesses the St. Louis Guiirds, 273. 
Duels. Barton-Rector, 24. 

Benton-Lucas, 180. 

PetLis-Biddle, 193. 

Smith-Browne, 90. 

Smith-Houston, 91. 



INDEX. 473 

Dunklin, John, 461. n 

Durand, Martin, 48. 

Eaton, N. J., 436. 
Edwards, John C, 463. 
ElUott, Henry, 29. 

Farnham, Russell. Account of his remarkable journey across 

Behring's Straits and Siberia to St. Petersburg, 163-167. 
Farris, R. P., 185-188. 
Ferguson, Peter, 191. 
Filley, Giles F., short sketch of, 443-445. 

Pays a million dollars of security-debts, 445. 
Filley, O. D., short sketch of, 429-431. 
Fletcher, Thomas C, 466. 

Gamble, Archibald, 17, 39. 

Assists in reception of Gen, Lafayette, 56-63, 204. 
Gamble, H. R. Adventure with Mr. Darby on journe}^ to Gas- 
conade County in 1830, 176-179. 

Work to secure railroads, 207. 

Incidents, 55, 465. 
Gantt, Thomas T. Sketch of his life and public services, 431- 

443. 
Garnier, Justice Joseph V. Amusing anecdotes, 121-123. 
Gasconade Circuit Court in 1827. Interesting reminiscences, 

153-162. 
Gaty, Samuel. Earl}^ career, and how he started in business in 

St. Louis, 419-427. 
Geyer, Henry S., short sketch of, with anecdotes, 371-376. 
Gillespie, Joseph, 111. 
Goodfellovv, John, 219. 

Grant, Gen. U. S., some anecdotes of, 448-453. 
Gratiot, Charles, 223. 
Gratiot, Gen. Charles. Sketch of his career, 225. 

Examines St. Louis harbor, 226, 459. 



474 INDEX. 

Gratiot, PaulM., 406. 

Gratiot, JohnB., 406. 

Gray, Alexander, 26. 

Grimsley, Tliornton, 204, 222, 247. 

Grundy, Felix. Sketch of his life and character, 97-105. 

Conduct of a celebrated case, 106-112. 
Gunpowder explosion, 261, 262. 

Hammond, George, killed by Francis E. Mcintosh, 238. 

Hardin, Charles H., 466. 

Hempstead, Charles S., 19. 

Hempstead, Edward, urges Congress to confirm title to lands 

for support of schools, 15. 
Sketch of, 19, 20. 
Hempstead, Stephen, 61. 
Henderson, John B., 464. 
Hequembourg, Mr. Justice, 3(S9. 
Hill, Capt. David B., commands a militia company at reception 

of Gen. Lafayette, 64. 

Amusing anecdotes of, 372, 373. 
Hopkins, W. H., 39. 
Houston, Gen. Sam, 91. 

Kayser, Henry. His work on the St. Louis harbor, 230, 231. 

Keemle, Col. Charles, 148, 204, 269. 

Kennerly, G. H., 305. 

Kenrick, Peter Richard, 274. 

King, Austin A., 463. 

Krum, oohn M., 270. 

Jackson, Claiborne F., 465. 
Jackson, Hancock, 464. 
Jarnagin, Spencer, 22. 
Johnson, Waldo P., 464. 
Jones, John Rice, 29. 

Jones, William H., unjustly suspected of theft, commits suicide, 
175. 



INDEX. 475 

La Fitte, Monsieur, 45-53. 

Pirates of Barataria, 46, 47. 

Attempts to capture them, 48. 

Generosity of La Fitte, 49. 

Various stories, 50, 5L 

A desperate engagement, 52 
Labadie, Sylvester, 31. 

Laclede, assists at reception of Gen. Lafa3^ette, 61. 
Lafayette, Gen. Visit to St. Louis in 1825, 53. 

Ludicrous difficulties attending liis reception, 56-59. 

Jacob Roth's enthusiasm over Lafayette, 59, 60. 

Meeting with Alexander Bellesseme, 62, 63. 

Departure, 6Q., 67. 
Lafayette Park, origin of, 247-250. 
Land-titles imperfect up to 1811, 13, 
Lane, Dr. Hardage, 193. 
Lane, William Carr. Mayor of St. Louis in 1825, 55. 

Exertions to give Gen. Lafayette a reception, 56-61. 

Elected mavor in 1839, 230. 

Incident, 246. 

Sketch of his life, 335-350. 
Laveille, James C, 222. 
Lawless, L. E., 133. 

Words with John B. C. Lucas, 172. 
Leduc, M. P., elects T. H. Benton to Senate, 31, 32, 56. 

Incident, 247. 
Lee, Lieut. Robert E., superintends work in the St. Louis harbor, 

227-230. 
Lincoln, President A., An anecdote, 445-448. 
Lucas, Charles, killed in duel with T. H. Benton, 180. 
Lucas, J. B. C. Scene with Lawless in court, 172. 

Newman, John, 113. 
Nicholas, George, 97. 

O' Fallon, Benj., acts as second to Maj. Thomas Biddle in his duel 
with Spencer Pettis, 193. 



476 INDEX. 

O' Fallon, John, marries Miss Stokes, 129. 

Incidents of his early life, 129, 130, 143. 

Marries a second time, 146. 

Victim of a comical serenade, 147. 

Character, 148-150. 
O'Neil, Hugh. Plan for disposing of the proceeds of sale of St. 
Louis "common," 244-246. 

Anecdote of, 307. 
Otho, King of Greece. His visit to St. Louis, 210-213. 

McAllister, Rev. Alexander, 143. 

McClurg, J. W., 466. 

McGirk, Andrew, Isaac, Mathias, 26. 

McGunnagle, G. K., 203, 371, 372. 

Mcintosh, Francis E., kills two officers and is burned to death by 

a mob in 1836, 237-241. 
McKnight, John, sketch of, 379-381. 
McNair, Alexander, 461. ' 

Marie, Michel, 48, 49. 
Miller, John, 189, 461. 
Mills, Adam S., 222. ' 
Mills, Benjamin, 108, 111. 

Monroe, Joseph J. Story of Judge John D. Cook, 123. 
Moore, "Big Bob," 65, 114-116. 
Moore, Jonas, curious anecdote of, 319, 320. 
Mormons remove from Missouri to Illinois, 198. 
Morrow, Jeremiah, 14. 
Morton, George, 222. 

Mullanphy, Bryan. Anecdotes illustrating his character, 303-312. 
Mullanphy, John, sketch of, 67-69. 

His liberality, 70, 71. 

Characteristic anecdotes, 72-75. 

Compelled to serve at battle of New Orleans, 76. 

How he made his immense fortune, 77-79. 

His family, 80, 81. 
Mull, William, arrests Francis E. Mcintosh, and is killed by 
him, 238. 



INDEX. 477 



Murphy ,. Rev. William, 21. 



Page, Daniel D., 222, 377. 

Peck, James Hawkins, settles in St. Louis and is appointed United 
States district judge, 167. 

Incidents of bis career, 168-176. 

Endeavors to prevent the Pettis-Biddle duel, 196. 

Sundry allusions, 26, 58, 147. 
Peck, Rev. John M., 111. 
Penrose, Clement B., 17. 
Perez, Don Manuel, 458. 
Pettis, Spencer, 188. 

Candidate for Congress, 189. 

Affray with Maj. Thomas Biddle, and duel, 189-198. 
Phelps, John S.., 467. 
Piernas, Don Pedro, 458. 
Pirates of Barataria, 46-48. 
Polk, Trusten, 464. 
Pratte, Gen. Bernard, 18, 31, 219. 
Prentiss, Sargent S., makes a speech at St. Louis, 314. 

Anecdotes of, 316, 317. 
Price, SterHng, 463. 
Primm, Wilson, 117-119, 231, 233. 

Ralls, Daniel, casts a vote for Benton while dying, 32, 33. 
Rector, Gen. William, 24. 
Reel, John W., 417. 

Reynolds, John. Incidents of his career, 322-324. 
Reynolds Thomas, 463. 

Riddick, Thomas F. Scheme for endowment of the public schools, 
14, 15, 17. 

Monument due him, 18, 219. 
Riley, Bennett, 290. 
Riot in 1854, 436. 

In 1877, 443. 
Risley, William, as treasurer of St. Louis County, becomes a 
defaulter for $100,000, 357-362. 

The defalcation made good by securities, 363-371. 



478 INDEX. 

Risque, F. W., 304. 

Rosatti, Bishop, 273. 

Roth, Jacob. Ludicrous exploit at Gen. Lafayette's reception, 

59, 60. 

t 

Sand-bars in the Mississippi River threaten damage, 218, 219. 

Sarpy, Gregoire, 31. 

Savage, William H., 56. 

Schrader, Otho, 86, 87. 

Sellers, Capt. Isaiah. Sketch of his life, 213-218. 

Sevier, John, 22. 

Shaw, Henry, 377. 

Shelby, Col., 22. 

Simonds, John, Jr., 58. 

Skinker, Thomas, 308. 

Smith, Maj. Thomas F., 276, 290. 

Smith T, Col. John. Sketch of early Hfe, 84, 85. 

Makes himself deleo-ate to look after the interests of the 
Territory at Washington, 86. 

Attempts to join Burr's expedition, 87. 

Futile attempt to arrest him, 88, 89. 

Duel with Lionel Browne, 90, 91. 

Anecdotes, 92-97. 

Challenges Gen. Sam Houston, 91. 

Kills a man at Ste. Genevieve, 92. 

Incidents of his career, 94-97. 
Smith, Josepii, indicted for attempt to assassinate Gov. Boggs, 
200. 

Proceedings in court, 201. 

Murdered, 202. 
Soulard, J. G. Sketch of his life, 413-415. 
Southern Hotel. Reminiscences of the spot where it now stands, 

391-395. 
St. Ange de Bellerive, 457. 
St. Louis. The town and inhabitants in 1818, 5-13. 

In 1825, 54-56. 



INDEX. 4-79 

St. Louis "common," 242-250. 

Act authorizing its sale, 246. 

Lafa3^ette Park laid out, 247-250. ' 
St. Louis Law Libraiy. An interesting correspondence, 325, 326. 
St. Louis Public Schools. Origin of land-grant, 14. 

Receive one-tenth proceeds of sale of St. Louis "com- 
mon," 248. 
St. Louis University, 257-260. 

Visit of Daniel Webster, 265. 
Stewart, Robert M., 464. 
Stokes, Marianne. Her suit for divorce against William Stokes, 

131-14L 
Stokes, William, settles in St. Louis and builds a magnificent 
residence, 126-128. 

The real Mrs. Stokes appears, 131. 

Suit for divorce, and its extraordinary^ revelations, 133- 
141. 

Stokes's ruin and death, 142-146. 
Sturgeon, Isaac H., 150. 
Sullens, John, 162. 
Sullivan, James, anecdote of, 393. 
Swon, John C, 417. 

Taylor, Justice Moses. A novel way of administering justice, 

117-120. 
Thomas, Capt. Martin, acts as second to Spencer Pettis in his 

duel with Maj. Thomas Biddle, 192. 
Treat, Hon. Samuel, 435. 
Trudeau, Don Zenon, 458. 
Tucker, N. B., 133. 

Anecdotes of, 301. 

Waldo, Dr. David. Sketch of his early life, 151, 152. 

Held many offices, 153. 
Walker, J. K., 58. 
Walsh, Mrs. Isabella, 427-429. 



480 INDEX. 

Walsh, Justice Patrick. His extraordinary conduct of a case, 
, 113-116. 

Washington Square. An account of negotiations for the pur- 
chase of land for it, 276-291. 
Webster, Daniel. Visit to St. Louis, 205-208. 
Whipping-post incident, 159. 
White, James M., 95. 
Wilson, Robert, 464. 
Wimer, John M., 288. 
Woodson, Silas, 466. 

Von Phul, Henry, 56. 



IbMr'SQ 



